CAPE SAN BLAS -- National Weather Service radar indicate that the center of Tropical Storm Fred made landfall near Cape San Blas, Florida, with top sustained winds near 65 miles per hour.
...FRED MAKES LANDFALL IN THE EASTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE...
National Weather Service WSR-88D radar data indicate that the
center of Tropical Storm Fred has made landfall near Cape San
Blas, Florida. Maximum sustained winds are estimated to be near
65 mph (100 km/h).
SUMMARY OF 215 PM CDT...1915 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...29.7N 85.4W
ABOUT 25 MI...40 KM W OF APALACHICOLA FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...65 MPH...100 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 20 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...994 MB...29.35 INCHES
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
* Coast of Florida from Indian Pass to Yankeetown
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Coast of the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend from Navarre to the
Steinhatchee River
A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening
inundation from rising water moving inland from the coastline in
the indicated locations. For a depiction of areas at risk, please
see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic,
available at hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation.
Persons located within these areas should take all necessary
actions to protect life and property from rising water and the
potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow
evacuation and other instructions from local officials.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within the
next 12 hours.
For storm information specific to your area, including possible
inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your
local National Weather Service forecast office.
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 100 PM CDT (1800 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Fred was
located near latitude 29.4 North, longitude 85.5 West. Fred is
moving toward the north-northeast near 9 mph (15 km/h), and this
general motion is expected through tonight. On the forecast track,
the center of Fred should make landfall in the eastern Florida
Panhandle this afternoon or early this evening, and move over
western Georgia on Tuesday.
Data from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate
that maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph (100 km/h) with higher
gusts. Little change in strength is expected before landfall.
After landfall, Fred is expected to quickly weaken.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles (185 km)
from the center. A wind gust of 58 mph (93 km/h) was recently
reported at Bald Point, Florida.
The estimated minimum central pressure based on data from the
Hurricane Hunter Aircraft is 994 mb (29.35 inches).
Photo: NHC