Hurricane

A unit from the Osceola County Sheriff's Office joined the KUA crew in the hardest-hit areas, leaving Friday morning to head to Levy County to render support and assistance in that hard-hit area. OSCEOLA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

A unit from the Osceola County Sheriff's Office joined the KUA crew in the hardest-hit areas, leaving Friday morning to head to Levy County to render support and assistance in that hard-hit area. OSCEOLA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

#HurricaneHelene updates — Sheriff's Office joins KUA crew in Big Bend areas hardest hit

SATURDAY UPDATE -- A unit from the Osceola County Sheriff's Office joined the KUA crew in the hardest-hit areas, leaving Friday morning to head to Levy County to render support and assistance in that hard-hit area.
Osceola County is under a Tropical Storm Watch due to the threat later this week from soon-to-be Hurricane Helene. GRAPHIC/NWS

Osceola County is under a Tropical Storm Watch due to the threat later this week from soon-to-be Hurricane Helene. GRAPHIC/NWS

UPDATE — Sandbags available Tuesday at OHP as Tropical Storm Helene officially forms

TUESDAY 11:30 A.M. — Ahead of the approach of Tropical Storm Helene — which was officially named at 11 a.m., Osceola County announced sandbag operations would be available for county residents to get bags at Osceola Heritage Park from 12-7 p.m. Tuesday.
The GFS storm model for Monday morning shows the potential of a major hurricane impacting the Big Bend area late on Thursday. GRAPHIC/TROPICAL TIDBITS

The GFS storm model for Monday morning shows the potential of a major hurricane impacting the Big Bend area late on Thursday. GRAPHIC/TROPICAL TIDBITS

Watching the Gulf—VERY CLOSELY—for a potential major hurricane just to our west

Stay weather and hurricane ready, Osceola.The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a tropical disturbance currently in the western Caribbean approaching the Yucatan peninsula, and computer forecasting models are coming into agreement that it will form into a hurricane and affect parts of Florida.
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring this part of the western Caribbean for potential development that could eventually affect Florida. GRAPHIC/NHC

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring this part of the western Caribbean for potential development that could eventually affect Florida. GRAPHIC/NHC

Tropical trouble to come? NHC looking at Caribbean spot

So first, let's get to what we know right now ...The National Hurricane Center is closely watching a broad area of low pressure in the northwest Caribbean that could develop into the season's next named storm.
The GFS hurricane model for Sept. 21, with a potential tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida and a major hurricane out in the Atlantic. GRAPHIC/TROPICAL TIDBITS

The GFS hurricane model for Sept. 21, with a potential tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida and a major hurricane out in the Atlantic. GRAPHIC/TROPICAL TIDBITS

Tropics on uptick: Francine, Gordon may soon form -- any impacts for us?

MONDAY UPDATE — At 11 a.m. the National Weather Service began issuing advisories on #TropicalStormFrancine with 50 mph winds in the Gulf of Mexico. It's expected to arrive on the western to central Louisiana coast Wednesday evening as a Category 1 hurricane.
The marquee on the Arcade Theater in downtown Kissimmee brought a bit of levity on Monday, Aug. 16 as cleanup from Charley continued. FILE PHOTO

The marquee on the Arcade Theater in downtown Kissimmee brought a bit of levity on Monday, Aug. 16 as cleanup from Charley continued. FILE PHOTO

20 YEARS LATER — Hurricane Charley memories lead to experience, preparedness

This night 20 years ago, you may have needed a flashlight or candle to read this, and you certainly wouldn’t have been reading it online.Aug. 13, 2004 wasn’t just Friday the 13th — but it sure felt like it.
Soon-to-be Ernesto is expected to affect the northern Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico and potentially Bermuda -- but not the Bahamas or U.S. Coast. GRAPHIC/NHC

Soon-to-be Ernesto is expected to affect the northern Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico and potentially Bermuda -- but not the Bahamas or U.S. Coast. GRAPHIC/NHC

Tropical Storm warnings up for Puerto Rico, islands ahead of soon-to-be Ernesto

The National Hurricane Center has been watching a tropical wave for days in the Atlantic. While the fast-moving storm has not formed a "well-defined center", forecasters believe it will, and strengthen into a tropical storm by Wednesday, when its expected to reach Puerto Rico with 50 mph winds.
Rain bands from Hurricane Debby will continue to pass through Osceola County Monday, and maybe into Tuesday, even though the storm center is about 200 miles away. RADAR IMAGE/NWS MELBOURNE

Rain bands from Hurricane Debby will continue to pass through Osceola County Monday, and maybe into Tuesday, even though the storm center is about 200 miles away. RADAR IMAGE/NWS MELBOURNE

Osceola remains under tornado watch

A Tornado watch remains in effect for Central Florida, including Osceola, until 4 p.m. Monday as the feeder rain bands from Hurricane Debby continue to roll into the area from the south during the day.
The area in yellow shows the Tornado Watch in effect for Osceola County and Central Florida through 8 p.m. Sunday. GRAPHIC/NWS MELBOURNE

The area in yellow shows the Tornado Watch in effect for Osceola County and Central Florida through 8 p.m. Sunday. GRAPHIC/NWS MELBOURNE

What to expect from Debby -- and when

While Osceola County won't feel the full force of soon-to-be Hurricane Debby, we will feel the expected effects of being to the east, or on the "right side" of the tropical system.Osceola County is included in a tornado watch in effect until 8 p.m.
The National Hurricane Center projects Osceola County to receive 3-7 inches of rain through Monday, on the current path of projected movement. GRAPHIC/|NHC

The National Hurricane Center projects Osceola County to receive 3-7 inches of rain through Monday, on the current path of projected movement. GRAPHIC/|NHC

Call it Tropical Depression Four now -- by Saturday it should be Debby

A bit of change at 11 p.m.to the tropical system the National Hurricane Center has been watching now for nearly a week: it's become Tropical Depression Four, and the path of projected movement has edged to the west.