Tropical Storm Fay may reach hurricane status as it hits Florida

Tropical Storm Fay is expected to cross the Florida Keys on Monday night arriving on the west coast on Tuesday afternoon, possibly at hurricane strength. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has given a near 40% probability to Fay’s achieving hurricane status by landfall, and a 7% probability that it will arrive as a Category 2 storm. “However, Fay is now moving into an area of moderate wind shear, so intensification is likely to be limited,” Dr. Peter Daily, director of atmospheric science at AIR Worldwide, said in a release. The forecast landfall location recalls Hurricane Charley, which ravaged the area in 2004, Daily noted, adding that Fay is highly unlikely to intensify to Charley’s Category 4 status. “Further mitigating damage potential, buildings in this part of Florida conform to the Florida Building Code, which means they are designed to withstand peak gusts of 120 to 130 mph,” he continued. “Nevertheless, it is important to note that, as always, there is considerable uncertainty with respect to Fay’s future track and intensity.”Tropical Storm Fay is approaching Florida’s Key West area, with tropical storm conditions spreading into the lower and middle Florida Keys, according to the NHC. Tropical storm warnings are in effect along the east coast of Florida from Cocoa Beach southward and along the west coast east of Flamingo. A hurricane warning is in effect for the southwestern coast of Florida, from Flamingo to Anna Maria Island, the NHC adds. A tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch are in effect for Ocean Reef to Key West, including the Tortugas and Florida Bay.