The 11 pm outlook for Tropical Depression 9 shows a consistent pattern with earlier forecasts. The low is expected to become a Tropical Storm sometime tomorrow and should eventually move northeast over the northern Florida panhandle. The forecast cone has narrowed considerably with a better developed center and more consistency between computer models. The storm is also expected to move a little faster than originally predicted, which could mean that most of Labor Day weekend will be good weather for folks along the storm’s path, once it moves back out to sea in the Atlantic.
Rainfall near the path and to the right (south) could be up to 9 inches in a few scattered locations, but most areas will see less than that. I don’t expect a lot of rain in most of Georgia, although the far southeast corner could be clipped by 2 inches or more from the storm. A storm surge is expected along the Florida coast, and winds of up to 65 mph could knock down trees and power lines, although the winds should decay as the storm moves inland. As always, keep abreast of current forecasts from reliable providers for the latest information if you have plans that could be affected by the storm.
