'Huge' Tropical Storm System Could Slam GA, Bring Tornadoes

GEORGIA — A tropical storm system likely to form in the Gulf of Mexico is predicted to hit Georgia by Friday, though rains would start as early as Thursday when the storm could slam the northern Florida coast.

Though there were uncertainties Monday, the 300-mile-wide slow-moving system is expected to develop in the southern Gulf in the next day or two, National Weather Service meteorologist Vaughn Smith told Patch.

Tropical Cyclone 9 is anticipated to travel onshore possibly Thursday evening, likely near the Big Bend area. Smith said impacts could enter Georgia as soon as Thursday morning, and the storm's eye would cover the entire state all day Friday.

Winds of 20-30 mph, 2-5 inches of rain and tornadoes are forecast to accompany the system, Smith said. There is a potential for flooding.

The storm, which could be named Helene if formed, may down trees and cause power outages.

"Definitely a good tropical system coming into this way," Smith said, noting the storm could be a hurricane, though possible developments were unclear Monday. " ... This is a huge event."

The storm, which, if formed, could be named Helene.

It could down trees and cause power outages, while its remnants would continue through the weekend and may not diminish until early next week, Smith said.

Tropical Cyclone 9 could nearly reach hurricane strength as it approaches far northwestern Caribbean Sea Tuesday night, the National Hurricane Center said at its 11 a.m. update.

Hurricane conditions are possible in parts of western Cuba and the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, the NHC said.

The predicted storm could become a major hurricane as it lands Thursday along the northeastern Gulf Coast, bringing life-threatening storm surge and damaging hurricane-force winds to the Florida Panhandle and parts of the Sunshine State's west coast, the NHC said.

As of early Monday afternoon, the weather service forecast 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. in north and central Georgia. Afterwards, daily showers and thunderstorms are predicted the remainder of the week through Sunday.

The weather service did not forecast high probability of widespread hazardous weather Monday.

"Depending on the evolution of what is likely to become a tropical system in the Gulf of Mexico around midweek, there is potential for periods of heavy rainfall and resulting flash flooding and/or river flooding during the second half of the week. The severe weather threat is much more uncertain at this time," the weather service wrote in a hazardous weather outlook for north and central Georgia.

Along the coast, the Savannah area should be sunny until Thursday when showers could fall after 2 a.m. Tropical storm conditions are expected Thursday night, the weather service said.

Then, Savannah may experience daily showers and thunderstorms.

Temperatures are expected to dwindle from a high of 94 degrees Monday to a high of 77 degrees by Friday.