Bands of Thunderstorms with Gusty Winds Approaching SW Florida
The National Hurricane Center reports that Tropical Storm Colin now has maximum sustained winds near 50 mph with higher gusts in rainbands located well to the east and southeast of the center.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 250 miles to the southeast of the center. Little change in strength is forecast during the next couple of days.
Colin was 245 miles west of Tampa at 2:00 PM.
The center of Colin is forecast to approach the coast of the Florida Big Bend area later today. Colin should move across portions of Florida and southeastern Georgia early Tuesday morning, and move near the southeastern coast of the United states later on Tuesday.
Colin is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches with isolated maximum totals of 8 inches possible across the western and northern parts of Florida.
Tropical storm conditions are expected to first reach the Gulf coast within the warning area this afternoon, and the Atlantic coast within the warning area by early Tuesday. Tropical storm conditions are possible along the Atlantic coast within the watch area on Tuesday.
A few tornadoes are possible today and tonight across portions of Florida and far southern Georgia.