Sandbags are available until 6 p.m. this evening (June 5).

ST. PETERSBURG – This city’s Fire and Rescue department has issued the following information about the Tropical Storm, its possible impact on St. Petersburg and the city’s response.

The National Hurricane Center is now issuing advisories for Tropical Depression 3. A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for Florida’s west coast from Indian Pass to Englewood.

What’s Happening:

As expected, an area of low pressure making its way through the Gulf of Mexico has strengthened into a Tropical Depression and a tropical storm warning has been issued for the Tampa Bay area. The National Hurricane Center made Tropical Depression Three official as of their 11 a.m. update, and the system is expected to strengthen to become Tropical Storm Colin before making landfall along Florida’s west coast.

Impact on St. Petersburg:

A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Tampa Bay area. Forecasters and computer models have adjusted the path slightly northward with landfall of the storm’s center in the Big Bend region of the state. Even on that course, heavy rains will impact St. Petersburg with current projections in the range of 4 inches to 6 inches, with the heaviest rain hitting Monday afternoon and evening. Tides are expected to run 3 feet to 4 feet above normal Monday evening and Tuesday morning. There is also a probability of water spouts that could move on shore along the coast. Historically flood prone areas in St. Petersburg should prepare for localized flooding.

Hurricane hunters with the National Hurricane Center will evaluate the system this afternoon.

What St. Petersburg Is Doing:

The St. Petersburg Office of Emergency Management is monitoring this storm closely and preparing for the impacts the storm may cause. The following actions have taken place or are in motion:

*High water vehicles are staged and ready to be deployed if needed.

*Variable message boards will be placed in 3 historically flood-prone locations – 62nd Ave N, Shore Acres (40th Ave NE), and Snell Isle bridge (22nd Ave NE) – to notify residents to expect high water.

*Sandbag stations will be in operation today until 6 p.m. at the following locations:

• Northeast Park, 875 62nd Ave. NE (located at the Cardinal Drive entrance to Mangrove Bay Golf Course)
• Bartlett Park (Frank W. Pierce Recreation Center), 22nd Ave. S between Sixth and Seventh streets

*The City Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been prepped and on stand by for Monday morning.

*A shelter for citizens affected by the storm has been placed on stand-by for Monday morning at Northside Baptist Church, 6000 38th Ave. N.

For information about St. Petersburg, go to stpete.org.

St Petersburg | Weather | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Colin | Flooding | TB Reporter

#StPetersburg #Weather #TropicalStorm #TropicalStormColin #Flooding #TBReporter