Tropical Storm Emily Now Moving Inland

Update 11 am: Tropical Storm Emily came ashore midday Monday near Bradenton with maximum winds of 45 mph. The storm prompted a Tornado Warning in Manatee County where the heaviest wind and rain band hit just before 11 am. The Tampa was spared the worst from Tropical Storm Emily, and conditions should begin improving in the metro area this afternoon.

Further south and east, heavy rain will overspreading much of southwest and south Florida Monday afternoon and evening.  The heaviest will fall in the Miami metro area between 12 and 3 pm, spreading further north and east to the Treasure Coast by 6 pm. Heavy rain bands might also rotate northward into the Orlando and Melbourne metro areas by early evening, with the heaviest falling south of the I-4 corridor.[vc_message style="square" message_box_color="danger" icon_fontawesome="fa fa-exclamation" css=".vc_custom_1501518018062{margin-top: 12px !important;}"]UPDATE 8 AM: TD Six was upgraded to Tropical Storm Emily, per the 8 am advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Real-time updates are available in the original story below.[/vc_message]

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A Flood Watch has been issued for all coastal counties from Pinellas to Collier, then inland to the west shores of Lake Okeechobee. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches can be expected in most areas, with locally higher amounts up to six inches possible. The heaviest rain will fall just inland from the Sun Coast tonight, then spread northeast along and just of the I-4 corridor during the day Tuesday. Heavy rain will also move across south Florida today and tonight, including across much of Alligator Alley from Naples to Miami where an addition two or three inches of accumulation may occur.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect along the coast from the Anclote River to Bonita Beach, including the Tampa Bay metro area. Wind gusts to 45 mph will be possible in stronger rain bands moving ashore, especially along the coast. Rough offshore waters with seas of 5 to 7 feet can be expected, along with minor coastal flooding.

Original story posted at 6 am: An area of low pressure west of Tampa became better organized overnight, and the National Hurricane Center began issuing advisories on Tropical Depression Six at 6 am Tuesday morning.  The system is expected to come ashore in west-central Florida later today or tonight, producing heavy rain, possible flooding and wind gusts up to 40 mph. Little or no strengthening is forecast for TD6 before landfall, but it might briefly become a tropical storm before moving inland and weakening Tuesday.