Here she comes! She's accelerating and seems to be strengthening as she goes (the promised weakening due to wind shear doesn't seem to be occurring). The eye is rather large too, which is generally a good sign: the wind speed is inversely proportional to eye size. Landfall of the Category 2 or 3 storm will be around mid-morning to noon on Monday. Here is a useful satellite picture link.....
The storm will hit further south than previously forecast, probably south of Naples, around Everglades City, or in the Everglades proper. Regarding Key West, I suspect "Fantasy Fest" will be postponed, because the eye will pass just north of there, and Key West will spend a lot of time right in and near the eye wall, and experience pretty much the worst the storm has to offer.
Looks like the first of the rains has started in Tampa. Batten down the hatches, and good luck: the next day will be interesting!
Here is the National Weather Service forecast for Tampa:
Tonight: Rain likely and possibly a thunderstorm, then periods of rain after 2 am. Steady temperature around 76. Windy, with a east northeast wind 18 to 21 mph increasing to between 40 and 43 mph. Winds could gust as high as 63 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday: Periods of rain, mainly before 11 am. Temperature falling to around 66 by 5pm. Windy, with a north northwest wind 41 to 44 mph decreasing to between 29 and 32 mph. Winds could gust as high as 64 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
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