TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Ike Won't Pass Unnoticed By Boaters, Coastal Areas

ADVERTISEMENT

By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 8, 2008

TAMPA - The passage of Hurricane Ike through the Gulf of Mexico, starting Tuesday, will change Bay area weather, but most of the storm's effects will be along the coast.

The National Weather Service said coastal flooding could push tides 2 feet to 3 feet above normal Wednesday and Thursday as winds from the storm shove water ashore.

A high-surf advisory is likely through Thursday as waves along Gulf beaches begin to build.

Otherwise, you can think of this as Gustav Light. Hurricane Gustav brought some gusty winds and rain from its extreme outer bands.

Ike likely will bring winds of 15 mph -- not as gusty as those from Gustav. Also, unless Ike expands in the Gulf, it's not likely the storm's rain bands will reach the Tampa Bay area, said Todd Barron, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Ruskin.

Ike, however, will drag a plume of moist air from the south and displace the umbrella of dry air that has hovered over West Central Florida for the past week.

The moist air will kick off thunderstorms that have been on hold. Thunderstorms will ramp up starting Tuesday, mainly from the Tampa Bay area south, then become more widespread and numerous Wednesday through Thursday.

The storms won't be limited to the usual afternoon arrival and could pop up day or night, especially Wednesday.

Ike's passage will bring a couple days of bad boating conditions. The weather service issued an advisory that small craft should use caution in Tampa Bay and up to 20 miles into the Gulf of Mexico tonight through Thursday.

That could become a small-craft advisory if the waves and chop increase, Barron said.

Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (813) 259-7731 or njohnson@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT