Watches, warnings issued for parts of Florida ahead of projected hurricane

ORLANDO, Fla. – Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 is expected to move over the Gulf of Mexico and become a hurricane on Wednesday, strengthening on a projected path toward Florida.

Watches and warnings have been issued for parts of Florida ahead of a projected major hurricane later this week.

Here are the types of warnings that can be issued:

• Storm surge watch: This means there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.

• Tropical storm warning: This means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.

• Tropical storm watch: This means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

• Hurricane watch: This means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area.

• Hurricane warning: This means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within the next 12-24 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.

Here are the Central Florida counties under current tropical storm watches:

Lake County is under a flood warning and Flagler County is under a coastal flood advisory.

For the Gulf Coast of Florida, several watches have been issued:

• A Storm Surge Watch has been issued from Indian Pass Florida southward to Bonita Beach Florida, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor.

• A Hurricane Watch has been issued for the Gulf Coast of Florida from Englewood northward and westward to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay.

• A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for the Gulf Coast of Florida from Indian Pass to the Walton/Bay County Line and from north of Bonita Beach to south of Englewood.

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