Tropical Storm Sandy: Tropical storm watch issued for Southeast Florida

Regular Photo Size

Posted: 10/24/2012

By: Kait Parker, WPTV.com

SOUTH FLORIDA -

A tropical storm watch has been issued for the east coast of Florida from the Jupiter Inlet south and west to Flamingo, including the Florida Bay.

A tropical storm watch has been issued for the Florida Upper Keys from Ocean Reef southward to Craig Key.

A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within 24 to 36 hours.

At 5:00 a.m., the center of Tropical Storm Sandy was moving toward the north near 14 mph. and this general motion is expected to continue through Thursday accompanied by a gradual increase in forward speed.

On the forecast track, Sandy is expected to move across Jamaica by late this afternoon and evening.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 70 mph with higher gusts, and Sandy is expected to become a hurricane by the time it reaches Jamaica and Cuba.

Topical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles from the center.

Although it is unlikely that Sandy will make landfall in Florida, this storm will likely pass close enough to generate some unfavorable conditions for the end of the work week.

The track for Sandy has been very consistent, with the storm moving over Cuba and into the Bahamas. Cuba will have a little time to weaken the storm quite a bit. After the Bahamas, the storm may briefly head out into the Atlantic, but several of the reliable models have it swinging back west and slamming into the mid-Atlantic states or New England.

On the current track, Sandy will be the toughest on us Thursday night through late Friday/early Saturday morning.

At this point in time it appears this will mainly be a wind and marine event, with at least Tropical Storm Force wind gusts, and huge seas in the 10-20 feet range.

Rainfall of one to three inches is possible along the coast, but the flooding potential is low.

What to expect:

The degree of impact on our area will large depend on whether Sandy travels on the east or west side of the error cone. The most likely scenario brings rain bands through Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast that will contain some periods of very heavy rain and very strong winds.

Sustained winds for our entire area will increase and become quite gusty even without passing rain bands. Additionally, boating and beach conditions will be very dangerous. Waves will be quite high and rip currents will be prevalent. Some beach erosion can be expected.

Millions of people in the Caribbean are being warned to get ready for a hurricane that's expected to strike today, bringing destructive waves and life-threatening mudslides.

Sandy is expected to be a hurricane sometime today, and Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba are in its projected path, the National Hurricane Center says.

Some areas could see 20 inches of rain in the coming days.

Jamaica is under a hurricane warning. Cuba issued a hurricane watch in several areas, and much of the Bahamas is under a tropical storm watch.

CNN and wptv.com contributed to this report