TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Bay Area Is In For Coastal Flooding

ADVERTISEMENT

By NEIL JOHNSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 9, 2008

TAMPA - The passage of Hurricane Ike through the Gulf of Mexico, on its projected path to strike the Texas-Louisiana border this weekend, will bring high surf along the coastline and change the Bay area's weather over the next few days.

The National Weather Service said winds from the storm could push tides 2 feet to 3 feet above normal Wednesday and Thursday. A high-surf advisory is likely through Thursday.

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

Ike likely will bring winds of 15 mph to us. 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.

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

Ike's passage will bring a couple of 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 through Thursday.

With the storm forecast to drift farther west before making a turn northward, Florida Keys officials let an evacuation order expire Monday.

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center warned that Ike could make landfall this weekend, possibly not far from Houston. Texas Gov. Rick Perry declared disasters in 88 counties and put 7,500 National Guard members on standby.

In Louisiana, where thousands remain without power after Gustav hit last week, Gov. Bobby Jindal urged residents to start stockpiling food, water, batteries and other supplies.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (813) 259-7731 or njohnson@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT