Tropical Storm Erika Continues Toward Tampa Bay

Tropical Storm Erika is barreling through the Caribbean on a collision course for the Florida peninsula.

As of 5 p.m. Friday, forecasters at the National Weather Service anticipated the storm will arrive in south Florida sometime between late Sunday evening and early Monday morning. With maximum sustained winds of 45 mph as of 8 p.m., Erika was moving on a westward course of 21 mph. The storm was located near the Dominican Republic Friday evening after leaving widespread flooding in her wake in other parts of the Caribbean. Erika has been blamed for at least two deaths in Dominica.

Forecasters anticipate the storm to weaken somewhat over the next day as it moves over land, heading toward Florida. As of Friday evening, Erika’s projected path would take the storm straight up the state’s west coast with possible impact between Sarasota and Tampa.

Forecasters expect Erika will weaken into a tropical depression Saturday as it collides with Cuba. As of Friday evening, it was expected Erika would regain tropical storm strength before its arrival in Florida.

See Also:

• Florida Prepares as Tropical Storm Erika Draws Closer
• Hurricane Season: How to Prepare
• Tampa Bay ‘Ripe for Disaster,’ Hurricane Experts Say
• State of Emergency Declared Ahead of Tropical Storm Erika
• Tropical Storm Erika: Where to Turn for Local Information

“We’ll have to just keep watching the forecast to see whether she intensifies or decreases,” said weather service meteorologist Natalie Gusack. “(There’s) still the possibility it will be not be as intense” after moving up the state.

Should Erika leave Florida intact, the storm is anticipated to reach Georgia as a tropical depression by Wednesday afternoon. A downgrading in the storm’s intensity is expected by Tuesday morning after the storm is projected to clear the Tampa Bay area.

As the storm puts Florida in its sights, forecasters and emergency management officials are urging residents to get their disaster plans in place. The state’s Emergency Operations Center has partially activated ahead of the storm’s arrival. Gov. Rick Scott also declared a state of emergency for all Florida counties Friday morning.

“The biggest thing to do is come up with a plan and watch the forecast track and, if needed, implement that plan,” Gusack said. “It’s all about being prepared, having a plan and executing that plan.”

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Graphic courtesy of the National Weather Service

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 8 p.m. Aug. 28 with the latest information from the National Hurricane Center.