As Major Hurricane Erin churns the waters off the Florida coast, the National Weather Service in Melbourne, FL, issued a warning of high rip currents posing a danger to the Orlando area. Beachgoers are advised to heed lifeguards' instructions, with the rough surf expected to induce minor beach and dune erosion with 5-8 foot breakers, according to an early morning bulletin.
Conditions deteriorate for boaters as well, with the National Weather Service predicting very dangerous boating conditions near inlets, particularly during the outgoing tide. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect from 8 AM Tuesday for offshore Volusia and Brevard, which will expand later to include Treasure Coast areas. Swells reaching 6-9 feet nearshore and up to 14 feet farther out at sea are expected by Wednesday.
Tomorrow's forecast sees an escalation of northern winds reaching 10-20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph along the coast, offering a slight respite with lower rain chances due to drier air. Yet, the remainder of the week brings scattered showers and storms, with rain chances pegged at 50-60% each day. Locally heavy rain remains a threat into the evening, which may result in one or more Flood Advisories being issued.
Aviation forecasts include increasing northeast winds pushing sea breezes inland by this afternoon, leading to possible thunderstorm activity impacting the area around 18Z/19Z. The current TAF forecast remains on track, the service notes, with certain areas like LEE expected to see temporary thunderstorm impacts from 21/24Z.
As the hurricane makes its closest pass nearly 450 miles offshore on Tuesday night, the National Hurricane Center urges continuous monitoring of the situation. While the Orlando area can expect a sequence of inclement weather, any precautionary measures taken by the local community could mitigate potential risks posed by the mighty storm.
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