The following post is NOT an official forecast and should not be used as such. It is just the opinion of the poster and may or may not be backed by sound meteorological data. It is NOT endorsed by any professional institution including storm2k.org For Official Information please refer to the NHC and NWS products.
On the current track I expect Frances-like conditions for Tampa area, when Frances was over on the West coast of Florida. Recall that Tampa saw TS force winds from Frances - which wreaked havoc and knocked out power everywhere. Here is what I expect for those on the West cost of Florida - in the Tampa area (I just gave this same guidance to my mother who lives in Clearwater)
BE PREPARED - tropical storms are not fun:
- Tornado threats
- scattered power outages
- wind gusts to 60mph+ initially an onshore flow out of the SW
- no major structural damage but widespread landscaping damage with tree limbs down in many places.
- 3-6 inches of rainfall
- tides running 2-4 feet above normal (bayshore will flood as it always does)
- conditions will begin to detiorate gradually on Sun with Mon and Mon night being the bad times.