Tropical Depression 8 strengthened in the Gulf of Mexico and made landfall last night in the panhandle as Hurricane Hermine.
The biggest threat for TS Hermine is the rainfall. The National Weather Service has done a fantastic job putting together these area forecasts for estimated rainfall totals. My biggest concern is that people will think "It's not much" and try to go out in it. STAY HOME. Ride out the storm, and unless you have a boat and are rescuing people in flood waters, just wait until the water recedes. There is no point risking your life to go hang out at the local sports bar if it's still open. If you cannot see the roadway clearly, or you see water flowing over the road, TURN AROUND.
Tropical Storm Hermine has had a history of producing a few tornadoes in the eye wall as well, so please stay tuned to your local weather station via TV or battery-powered weather radio should the power go out. While the main threat is water, wind advisories have still been issued for much of the southern sandhills as winds will remain at tropical storm force: sustained at 15-25 mph with gusts of 35-45 mph. There will likely be some power outages as a result of the combination of wind and rain.Take-Aways:
1. Avoid flood waters; it would be best to stay off the road for the next two days.
2. Make sure to buy bottled water in the event of flooding.
In the event of a power outage:
3. Have available a battery-powered radio to stay tuned to your local weather stations to stay updated.
4. Have phones, computers, and external batteries charged and ready to go.
5. Prepare candles for light
Stay safe everyone!
