Mindy Very Close to Making Landfall on the Florida Panhandle As of 7 pm

SUMMARY OF 700 PM CDT…0000 UTC…INFORMATION
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LOCATION…29.6N 85.4W
ABOUT 25 MI…40 KM WSW OF APALACHICOLA, FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…45 MPH…75 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…NE OR 50 DEGREES AT 21 MPH…33 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…1004 MB…29.65 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS
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A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
* Mexico Beach to Steinhatchee River Florida

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
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At 700 PM CDT (0000 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Mindy was located near latitude 29.6 North, longitude 85.4 West. Mindy is moving toward the northeast near 21 mph (33 km/h) and a northeast to east-northeast motion is expected to continue over the next several days. On the forecast track, the center of Mindy is expected to cross the coastline of the Florida Panhandle during the next hour or two, then cross portions of the Florida Panhandle and southeastern Georgia tonight. Mindy is then expected to move offshore of the southeastern United States into the western Atlantic Ocean by tomorrow.

Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected before Mindy makes landfall in the Florida Panhandle.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) manly to the southeast of the center. During the past few hours, NOAA buoy 42039 reported sustained winds of 47 mph (76 km/h) and a wind gust of 54 mph (86 km/h).

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1004 mb (29.65 inches). NOAA buoy 42039 reported a minimum pressure of 1006.5 mb (29.72) as the center passed nearby.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
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RAINFALL: Mindy is expected to produce storm total rainfall of 2 to 4 inches, with maximum amounts of 6 inches across the Florida Panhandle into southern portions of Georgia and South Carolina through Thursday morning. This rainfall may produce isolated to scattered flash, urban, and small stream flooding.

WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected to reach the coast within the warning area later this evening and tonight.

TORNADOES: A few isolated tornadoes are possible over portions of the Florida Panhandle this evening into tomorrow morning.

Category: ALL POSTS, Severe Weather, Tropical