The National Hurricane Center has issued a Hurricane Watch for Central Florida, including the theme park areas - meaning hurricane wind conditions are possible within the next 48 hours.
The Hurricane Watch covers most of Central Florida, including all of Brevard, Volusia, Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake counties.
Wind forecast suggests 60-80mph sustained winds, with guests to 95mph. Rainfall is expected to be 8-12 inches, with locally higher amounts. The window for the worst weather will be Sunday afternoon until Monday afternoon.
1131 AM EDT Fri Sep 8 2017
...HURRICANE WATCH IN EFFECT...
A Hurricane Watch means Hurricane wind conditions are possible somewhere within this area and within the next 48 hours
* LOCATIONS AFFECTED
- Orlando
- Apopka
- Christmas
* WIND
- LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Equivalent Cat 1 Hurricane force wind
- Peak Wind Forecast: 60-80 mph with gusts to 95 mph
- Window for Tropical Storm force winds: Sunday afternoon until Monday afternoon
- CURRENT THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY: Extreme
- The wind threat has remained nearly steady from the previous assessment.
- Emergency planning should include a reasonable threat for major hurricane force wind greater than 110 mph of equivalent Category 3 intensity or higher.
- To be safe, aggressively prepare for the potential of devastating to catastrophic wind impacts. Efforts should now be underway to secure all properties.
- Extremely dangerous and life-threatening wind is possible.
Failure to adequately shelter may result in serious injury, loss of life, or immense human suffering.
- POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Devastating to Catastrophic
- Structural damage to sturdy buildings, some with complete roof and wall failures. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Damage greatly accentuated by large airborne projectiles. Locations may be uninhabitable for weeks or months.
- Numerous large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and roadway signs blown over.
- Many roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban or heavily wooded places. Many bridges, causeways, and access routes impassable.
- Widespread power and communications outages.
* FLOODING RAIN
- LATEST LOCAL FORECAST:
- Peak Rainfall Amounts: Additional 8-12 inches, with locally higher amounts
- CURRENT THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY: Moderate
- The flooding rain threat has remained nearly steady from the previous assessment.
- Emergency planning should include a reasonable threat for moderate flooding where peak rainfall totals notably exceed amounts conducive for flash flooding and rapid inundation.
Rescues and emergency evacuations are possible.
- To be safe, earnestly prepare for the potential of significant flooding rain impacts.
- Dangerous flooding is possible. Failure to take action may result in serious injury or loss of life. If flood related watches and warnings are issued, heed recommended actions.
- POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Significant
- Moderate rainfall flooding may prompt several evacuations and rescues.
- Rivers and tributaries may quickly become swollen with swift currents and overspill their banks in a few places, especially in usually vulnerable spots. Small streams, creeks, canals, and ditches will overflow.
- Flood waters can enter some structures or weaken foundations. Several places may experience expanded areas of rapid inundation at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor drainage areas. Some streets and parking lots take on moving water as storm drains and retention ponds overflow.
Driving conditions will become hazardous with some road and bridge closures.
* TORNADO
- LATEST LOCAL FORECAST:
- Situation is somewhat favorable for tornadoes
- CURRENT THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY: Elevated
- The tornado threat has remained nearly steady from the previous assessment.
- Emergency planning should include a reasonable threat for isolated tornadoes, mostly with shorter and narrower damage
paths.
- To be safe, prepare for the potential of limited tornado impacts.
- Listen for tornado watches and warnings. Be ready to shelter quickly if a tornado approaches.
- POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Limited
- The occurrence of isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution of emergency plans during tropical events.
- A few places may experience tornado damage, along with power and communications disruptions.
- Locations could realize roofs peeled off buildings, chimneys toppled, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned, large tree tops and branches snapped off, shallow-rooted trees knocked over, moving vehicles blown off roads, and small boats pulled from moorings.
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