The recent disturbance we’ve been monitoring in the gulf has now officially become Tropical Depression Fourteen. This depression is expected to intensify into a hurricane before making landfall next week. It’s current forward speed is 3mph and winds at 35mph. The current projected path has the storm making landfall on the Florida bend and across the peninsula. The Panama City Beach and Santa Rosa Beach areas should expect some tropical storm force winds and storms.
As this storm progresses, we will update our posts and include reported path models.
This chart will help you to correlate the Category ratings to the sustained wind speeds:
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
At this time, the main concern for Panama City Beach will be heavy rain and flooding. Rip currents, strong winds, coastal flooding and tornados are also possible. The governor may declare a state of emergency for the state of Florida as a pro-active step to prepare for the impact on the coast, and the rains and flood waters that are expected across the state. This is standard protocol.
If we need to move balcony furniture, you will be contacted as soon as that’s confirmed.
We will continue to monitor the storm as if moves through the gulf. Storm paths can change quickly, however, so we will continue to monitor this storm under Storm Updates on our website.
