MOULTRIE – Monday afternoon the National Weather Service announced that there is a potential tropical cyclone that could impact Colquitt County and surrounding areas.
Colquitt County Emergency Management Director Justin Cox said in an email, “Colquitt County is in the 40-50% chance for Tropical Storm force impacts, including 4-6 inches of rain and strong winds.”
He went on to state the National Weather Service was confident in this forecast with the impacts being felt Thursday morning and possibly continuing all day.
“This storm is expected to strengthen rapidly and move quickly,” Cox said.
The National Weather Service’s briefing stated that the system was expected to strengthen on Tuesday and move northwestward toward the Northeastern Gulf. The system is expected become a hurricane and could reach the coast as a major hurricane and a large storm, in terms of its size.
Because of the storm’s speed, the briefing stated that rainfall total will not be as intense but considerable flash flooding and moderate riverine flooding is possible with the current wet conditions.
Also according to the National Weather Service, there is a 6 to 7 in 10 chance for tropical storm force winds for points along the Florida Big Bend coastline; a 5 to 6 in 10 chance in Tallahassee; a 4 to 5 in 10 chance in Valdosta; and a 3 in 10 chance in Albany and Panama City Beach.