• The Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Middle and Lower Keys, from west of Channel 5 Bridge to Key West, and including Dry Tortugas.
• A Coastal Flood Warning for saltwater flooding is in effect for all of the Florida Keys.
• Prepare now for:
o Storm Surge flooding, with potential saltwater flooding of 1 to 3 feet above ground level at the lowest elevations and shoreline. Flooding may extend over streets and low elevation properties a few blocks from the shoreline, and occur most likely Wednesday night through Thursday evening.
o Tropical storm force sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph in the Lower and Middle Keys and 25 to 35 mph from Islamorada through Ocean Reef are forecast, accompanied by frequent thundery squalls with damaging wind gusts of 55 to 65 mph and an isolated tornado or two. These winds may arrive in the Keys as early as this afternoon, but most likely arrive tonight around midnight. These wind conditions are expected to continue throughout the day Thursday.
o Heavy rainfall possible with amounts most likely in the 2 to 4 inch range, with a few locations receiving as much as 6 inches through Friday.
• Tropical Storm Helene is forecast to move northward across the eastern Gulf of Mexico Wednesday and Thursday, reaching the Big Bend coast of Florida late Thursday as major hurricane. Helene is expected to be a large tropical cyclone with storm surge, wind and rainfall impacts extending far to the east of its center.
• Protective actions on land for storm surge (saltwater) flooding and strong wind gusts should be completed by sunset Wednesday evening. Protective actions for docked or moored boats should be completed as early as possible Wednesday.
Please contact us at 305-295-1316 x3 for tactical weather decision needs. The next full briefing will be released by 12:00 pm Wednesday.
Briefings are also posted to https://www.weather.gov/media/key/DSS/dssbrief_land.pdf