TS Hermine now Hurricane Hermine

The National Hurricane Center issued a Special Update at 2:55 PM EDT and reported that data from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds in Hermine have increased to near 75 mph. Hermine is now upgraded to a hurricane, the fourth hurricane of 2016 in the Atlantic basin.

The center of Hurricane Hermine is 175 miles west of Tampa and moving northeast near 14 mph. The center of Hermine will be near the Florida coast in the warning area tonight or early Friday.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles to the east of the center.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Suwannee River to Mexico Beach. A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Anclote River to Suwannee River West of Mexico Beach to Destin.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Englewood to Suwannee River; West of Mexico Beach to the Walton/Bay County line and Flagler/Volusia County line to Surf City.

The National Hurricane Center issue the next complete update at 5:00 PM EDT.