Upper and Middle Keys Under Tropical Storm Watch

MARATHON – The National Hurricane Center has issued a Tropical Storm Watch from the Seven Mile Bridge (in the Middle Keys) to Deerfield Beach.

The Florida Keys can expect to feel the main impacts of Hurricane Matthew beginning Wednesday night and lasting through Thursday night, according to The National Weather Service in Key West.

Hurricane Matthew is now a Category 4 storm, located about 580 miles southeast of Key Largo and moving north at 10 mph.

For the Upper and Middle Keys, the probable impacts include wind speeds of between 20 and 30 mph with gusts to 35 mph. There is about a 25 to 40 percent chance of tropical storm conditions, with sustained winds of more than 39 mph.

For the Lower Keys, wind speeds of 15 to 20 mph are expected with gusts of 25 to 30 mph. There is a 12 percent chance of tropical storm conditions in Key West.

Minor coastal flooding is possible Wednesday through Saturday with above normal tide levels. The highest levels are expected Thursday and Friday on the bay side of the Upper Keys.

Throughout the Keys, local heavy rainfall is possible Wednesday night through Friday in bands associated with the storm. Minor, localized flooding could occur in the normally affected low lying areas. General rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are likely, with isolated amounts up to 5 inches are possible. The heaviest rainfall is expected to occur over the Upper Keys.

There is still a small possibility that the Upper Keys could experience hurricane force winds, if the storm track takes an unexpected veer toward the west.

“We are only 48 hours out and it still is a monster storm,” Monroe County Administrator Roman Gastesi said. “Everyone in the Keys should still keep their eyes on this storm and make personal preparations. This is especially the case for people living in the Upper Keys and Ocean Reef.”

Monroe County Emergency Management is coordinating preparedness efforts with local, state and federal partners.

Tuesday morning, Florida Gov. Rick Scott held a roundtable at the Florida Keys Marathon International Airport to ensure that Monroe County was getting all the state help it needs for storm preparation.

Monroe County Emergency Management Director Martin Senterfitt said no evacuations are planned for the Keys.

To receive Monroe County Emergency Management news and informational updates by text message on your phone or by email, go to Monroecountyem.com and click on big red Alert button and fill in the information.

Now is the time for you to prepare for any possible impacts that could occur due to heavy rain, possible high winds and possible localized flooding. For more information on preparedness, go to: http://www.monroecountyem.com/index.aspx?NID=90.

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