Claudette Pushes Inland in the South as a Tropical Rainstorm
AccuWeather.com reports Tropical Storm Claudette made landfall near Fort Walton Beach, Fla., early this morning. The storm will spread drenching showers and locally gusty thunderstorms to Alabama and surrounding states into the evening.
The northern part of a tropical wave entered the eastern Gulf of Mexico this weekend. By Sunday afternoon, the system strengthened into Tropical Storm Claudette.
Claudette produced blinding downpours and gusty winds along the Gulf Coast on Sunday as the center approached the Florida Panhandle. Claudette, now a tropical rainstorm will continue moving west-northwestward across Alabama today.
The rainstorm will still drop a general 3 to 5 inches of rainfall, with locally higher amounts.
Flash flooding will present the greatest threat from the storm, but thunderstorms firing up in the steamy air near the storm can generate wind gusts that can down trees and power lines. The thunderstorms can also produce an isolated tornado.
Travelers in the eastern Gulf Coast states should be prepared for difficulties and delays both on the ground and in the air into the evening.
The remnants of Claudette will be drawn northward into the frontal zone near the Ohio Valley through the middle of the week. The system can enhance shower and thunderstorm activity in that area.