Tropical Storm Erika situation update for St Johns County

St. Johns County Emergency Operations Center Director, Linda Stoughton, has informed local Historic City News reporters that we will continue to receive a situation updates automatically as Tropical Storm Erika continues its path in the Atlantic Ocean towards land. Currently, the Emergency Operation Center remains at Activation Level 3; which means that they are monitoring the situation.

Today’s Weather:  A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. East wind 6 to 14 mph.

Tonight’s Weather:  A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southeast wind 7 to 11 mph.

• At 11:00 a.m. the center of Tropical Storm Erika was located near 17.7N 69.4W or approximately 65 miles SSE of the Dominican Republic moving WNW at 18 mph.  Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph with tropical storm force winds extending out 150 miles primarily to the north and east of the center.
• This general motion is expected to continue for the next 48 hours with Erika moving across the Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos and then into the central and northwestern Bahamas Saturday and Saturday night.
• Some weakening is forecast this afternoon and tonight as Erika moves over land, followed by little change in strength through Saturday night.
• St. Johns County is within the National Hurricane Centers 5 day Forecast Cone. It should be noted that at the 5 day forecast point the average error in track forecast is 225 miles.
• The earliest potential for tropical storm force winds over the Florida peninsula would be Sunday.

The next Situation Report will be issued tomorrow at 12:30

—  St. Johns County agencies and departments are taking necessary protective actions to prepare the County for potential storm impacts.

—  St. Johns County Emergency Management is requesting that any departments or organizations that are taking any actions relative to the storm please advise us by email so that they can be added to our situation reports.

—  Now would be a good time for all citizens to review their emergency plan and supplies, as well as determine their Evacuation Zone

—  Please take this time to make sure that your NOAA weather radio is operational. The programming numbers for the NOAA weather radios are as follows:

North St. Johns County – Jacksonville Transmitter – 162.550

Southern St. Johns County – Palatka Transmitter – 162.425

A.M.E number for specific County programming – 012109

—  St. Johns County Emergency Management is holding County Leadership briefings with the National Weather Service Jacksonville daily.

—  St. Johns County Emergency Management is participating in conference calls with the Florida Division of Emergency Management and National Hurricane Center for the most up-to-date information on Tropical Storm Erika.