First storm of season forms off coast of Florida

(CNS): The National Hurricane Centre in Miami issued warnings of possible tornadoes across central Florida this morning following the formation of Tropical Storm Andrea in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday night. By Thursday morning the first tropical storm of the Atlantic season was heading northeast moving at 14mph towards the Florida big bend, giving residents in the area little preparation time. Located at around 160 miles west of Tampa and about 140 Miles south of Apalachicola Florida, forecasters said that Andrea was packing winds of 60mph and was some 140 miles across but it was not expected to strengthen further before reaching the coast.

It was predicted to head across Florida then southeastern Georgia and towards the Carolinas. Officials warned of storm surge, flooding from surge and heavy rain as well as tornadoes across the Florida Peninsula.

Well north of the local area, the storm poses no threat to the Cayman Islands, where moderate to fresh southeasterly winds and rough seas were expected to continue in association with a high pressure system over the central Atlantic Ocean and small craft are still being warned to exercise caution as wave heights reach 4-6 feet.