The National Hurricane Center is watching two systems, Tropical Storm Emily just off the coast of Florida, and a second in the east Caribbean Sea. (Image courtesy of the National Hurricane Center)
HOLT, Fla., July 31, 2017–Tropical Storm Emily formed in the Gulf of Mexico during the night just offshore of the west coast of Florida.
Emily is about 40 miles west-southwest of Tampa and moving at 8 mph. Winds speeds are 40 mph with gusts to 58 mph.
The storm is expected to reach Florida by early afternoon between Tampa and Sarasota, then cross Florida during the night and head into the Atlantic early Tuesday as a tropical depression.
Emily is expected to track northeastward as a minimal tropical storm by Tuesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the tropical wave now entering the Caribbean Sea continues to move west at 10-to-15 mph. It is expected to stay on its west-northwesterly track.
The National Hurricane Center predicts development of this system, if any, will be slow during the next several days.
Tropical Storm Emily is expected to cross Florida and head into the Atlantic Ocean by Aug. 1. (image courtesy of the National Hurricane Center)
Holt Enterprise News 