With Florida’s tropical season in full swing, storms are moving through St. Augustine with lightning, wind and rains.
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a low-pressure system migrating west in the Atlantic that’s expected to reach St. Augustine Tuesday afternoon and evening.
According to Ben Nelson, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Jacksonville, St. Augustinians can brace for more thunderstorms, showers and a heat index approaching 104 to 108 degrees. The system has a 30% chance for tropical development over the next seven days and a 10% chance over the next 48 hours.
“Strong to isolated severe thunderstorms will be possible inland, with frequent lightning strikes, torrential downpours, and wind gusts of 40-60 mph possible within stronger storms,” Nelson told the St. Augustine Record via email. “This low-pressure center can develop into a tropical depression or a weak tropical storm ― Dexter ― in the northern Gulf as it continues on a west towards coastal Louisiana. “
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Nelson said rain and thunderstorms are likely Tuesday morning with possible local flooding and a marginal risk for flash flooding in St. Augustine.
“Waves of showers and thunderstorms may continue into Wednesday with heat index values rising into the 90s in between afternoon showers and storms,” Nelson continued.
America’s oldest city can expect scattered showers and thunderstorms Thursday and Friday, with temps in the 90s.
“Heat index values may rise into the 104– to 108-degree range into the upcoming weekend,” he said.
Nelson also underscored the importance of following the National Weather Service’s slogan for lightning safety, “When thunder roars, go indoors!” and “See a flash, dash inside!” for the hearing impaired.
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“If you’re outdoors and can audibly hear thunder, you’re putting yourself at risk to be struck by lightning,” he said. “We live in the lightning capital of the United States, with Florida logging more than double the number of fatalities from lightning strikes than any other state.
Nelson said that during thunderstorms, beachgoers and those fishing and boating become the tallest objects in a given area, “where the most lightning fatalities have occurred during the past 20 years.”
Lightning injured 3 people during the weekend
On July 11, lightning struck the St. Johns County Ocean Pier on Anastasia Island. According to St. Augustine Beach Mayor Dylan Rumrell, three people were injured, one critically.
“St. Johns County Fire and Rescue treated and evacuated two patients ― one to a trauma center – the other to a nearby hospital,” he told the St. Augustine Record. “The third individual refused medical transport.”
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Rumrell said that as of this morning, one victim remains in the hospital conscious and breathing.
“No status on the other individual as of yet,” he said.
The pier was immediately closed and reopened on Sunday, only to be closed again at the onset of additional storms on Sunday afternoon. As of Monday morning, the pier remains open.
This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: Hurricane Center monitors tropical system in the Atlantic: Possible St. Augustine impacts
Reporting by Lucia Viti, St. Augustine Record / St. Augustine Record
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
