Gordon Fizzles; Hurricane Florence Waits in the Wings
September 5, 2018 07:37 PM
Accumulated rain from what became Tropical Depression Gordon makes for a big splash as this service van makes its way across a frontage road along Interstate 55 in Jackson, Miss., Sept. 5, 2018. Weather forecasts have much of the central part of the
Tropical Storm Gordon weakened Wednesday into a tropical depression, while forecasters kept their eyes on a strong storm churning in the Atlantic.
Gordon never strengthened into a hurricane but still brought misery along the central U.S. Gulf Coast. The storm knocked out power, caused floods and spawned several tornadoes. It was responsible for at least one death, when a large piece of a tree fell on a mobile home in Pensacola, Florida, killing a 10-month-old baby.
Flash flood watches were out from the Florida Panhandle west to as far north as Illinois as Gordon moved farther inland.
Meanwhile, forecasters were watching Florence, a strong Category 4 storm that was about 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) east of Bermuda as of late Wednesday.
Forecasters predicted Florence would weaken a bit over the next few days but would still be a powerful storm as it crept closer to Bermuda and the U.S. East Coast. That arrival was expected early next week.
Florence would be the first major Atlantic hurricane of the season to make landfall.
Tropical Storm Gordon to Strike US Gulf Coast
Tropical Storm Gordon made landfall overnight along the border between the southern U.S. states of Alabama and Mississippi, bringing strong winds and bands of heavy rain to the Gulf Coast.Forecasters had expected the storm to reach hurricane strength by the time it reached land late Tuesday, but the maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour were just below that level.Gordon will quickly lose strength during the day Wednesday as it moves further inland, but it…
Gordon Expected to Hit US Gulf Coast Tuesday Night as Hurricane
U.S. experts believe Tropical Storm Gordon will become a category one hurricane Tuesday before landing somewhere along the Gulf Coast after dark. The National Hurricane Center said by the time the storm reaches land it should achieve hurricane status, which would require continuous winds of at least 119 kilometers per hour (74 mph). Hurricane warnings are in effect for coastal areas in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. All three are directly in…