[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

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WTUS82 KKEY 242141
HLSKEY
FLZ077-078-250545-

Tropical Storm Laura Local Statement Advisory Number 20
National Weather Service Key West FL  AL132020
541 PM EDT Mon Aug 24 2020

This product covers the Florida Keys

 **TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE LOWER AND MIDDLE
  KEYS**

NEW INFORMATION
---------------

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - None

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Monroe Lower Keys and
      Monroe Middle Keys

* STORM INFORMATION:
    - About 200 miles south of Key West FL or about 220 miles
      south-southwest of Marathon FL
    - 21.7N 82.2W
    - Storm Intensity 60 mph
    - Movement West-northwest or 290 degrees at 20 mph

SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------

At 500 PM EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Laura was located about
40 miles east of Isle of Youth, Cuba, or about 200 miles south of Key
West. Laura was moving quickly to the west-northwest at 20 mph. This
general motion will continue through tonight. On the forecast track,
the center of Laura will cross western Cuba this evening and move into
the southeastern Gulf of Mexico overnight. Strengthening will begin
once Laura enters the Gulf.

Laura has made its closest approach to the Middle Keys, and the storm
will make its closest approach to the Lower Keys early this evening.
Conditions will start to improve over the Middle Keys early this
evening, with improvement spreading to the Lower Keys starting late
this evening and overnight. In the meantime, sustained east-southeast
winds of 30 to 35 mph with gusts to near 45 mph will continue. Any
thundery squalls will race to the west to northwest, producing damaging
wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph or greater. The peak wind gust so far in the
Keys has been a 69 mph gust at the NWS office in Key West during the
passage of a fast-moving squall at 311 pm.

A Coastal Flood Advisory is now in effect for the Lower Keys. The
Satan Shoal waverider buoy from Scripps Institution of
Oceanography --- located just outside the Reef and south of the Lower
Keys --- is currently reporting very high waves of 14 feet. The wind
and wave action will push water up onto south and southeast facing
shorelines and canals through tonight. Tide levels will likely rise an
additional foot above tide table predictions. This will pose the risk
of minor to locally moderate coastal flooding, especially around the
time of the high tide late tonight. There will also be overwash of
seawalls, beaches, shorelines, and canals.

Isolated tornadoes remain possible tonight, as the Keys come under the
favored northeast quadrant of the tropical storm.

Monroe County Emergency Management currently has no evacuation orders
in effect for the Keys.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------

* WIND:
Potential impacts from the main wind event are now unfolding across the
Florida Keys. Remain well sheltered from hazardous wind having
additional limited impacts. If realized, these impacts include:
    - Damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored
      mobile homes. Unsecured lightweight objects blown about.
    - Many large tree limbs broken off. A few trees snapped or
      uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are
      shallow rooted. Some fences and roadway signs blown over.
    - A few roads impassable from debris, particularly within urban
      or heavily wooded places. Hazardous driving conditions on
      bridges and other elevated roadways.
    - Scattered power and communications outages.

* SURGE:
Potential impacts from the main surge event are now unfolding across
the Lower Keys. Remain well away from locally hazardous surge having
additional impacts. If realized, these impacts include:
    - Localized inundation with storm surge flooding mainly along
      immediate shorelines and in low-lying spots, or in areas
      farther inland near where higher surge waters move ashore.
    - Sections of roads and parking lots inundated by surge water.
      Driving conditions dangerous in places where surge water covers
      the road.
    - Moderate beach erosion.
    - Minor to locally moderate damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks,
      and piers. A few small craft broken away from moorings.

Elsewhere across the Florida Keys, little to no impact is anticipated.

* TORNADOES:
Potential impacts from tornadoes are still unfolding across the Florida
Keys. Remain well braced against a tornado event having possible
limited impacts. If realized, these impacts include:
    - The occurrence of isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution
      of emergency plans during tropical events.
    - A few places may experience tornado damage, along with power
      and communications disruptions.
    - Locations could realize roofs peeled off buildings, chimneys
      toppled, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned,
      large tree tops and branches snapped off, shallow-rooted trees
      knocked over, moving vehicles blown off roads, and small boats
      pulled from moorings.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
----------------------------------

* EVACUATIONS:

There are no evacuation orders in effect for Keys residents or
visitors.

* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:

Keep your cell phone charged. If you lose power, use it sparingly and
mainly for personal emergencies and check-ins.

Do not be a thrill seeker or risk your life for senseless photos or
videos.

If a tornado warning is issued for your area, quickly move to the
safest place within your shelter. Protect your head and body.

* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
- For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov
- For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org
- For Florida Division of Emergency Management information, see
floridadisaster.org
- For Monroe County Emergency Management Information, see
monroecountyem.com/782/Emergency-Management
- For Monroe County EM Hurricane Preparedness Information, see
monroecountyem.com/1214/Hurricane-Preparedness
- For Monroe County EM Evacuation Information, see
monroecountyem.com/897/Evacuation-information
- For Monroe County shelter information, see
monroecountyem.com/992/Shelters

NEXT UPDATE
-----------

The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather
Service in Key West FL around 12 Midnight EDT, or sooner if
conditions warrant.

$$
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