SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Tropical Storm Colin is heading toward Florida and can bring with it heavy rain and even tornadoes.
“It doesn’t matter if it has a name or a number, all that matters is what it’s gonna do for you,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Robert Garcia.
Meteorologists at the National Weather Service have been tracking Tropical Storm Colin and are watching the forecast closely. “The potential that we can see a lot of rain, a potential for tornadoes,” Garcia said.
Colin carries wind speeds of over 39 miles per hour and was upgraded from a tropical depression Sunday evening. The storm is heading toward Naples. However, the southern most part of the Sunshine State could see at least one to three inches of rain overnight, going into Monday morning. “Yeah, I’ll be able to go to work, but you know, gotta catch the bus and all that,” said commuter Angie Alvarez.
Rocio Simeunovic, who also commutes, couldn’t help but think of her daily travels. “The traffic, all the rain,” she said.
Damage may be on its way with Colin. “This is gonna be feeling like, ‘Oh, it’s raining sideways almost,'” Garcia said.
Southwest Florida will feel the brunt of the storm, but the East Coast isn’t out of the woods.
A 7News viewer sent in a picture of a water spout along Miami Beach.
Governor Rick Scott was already briefed in Tallahassee by the State Emergency Operations Center. “When these rains hit, they hit hard. It obscures visibility,” said North Bay Village Police Sgt. Steve McVay.
In a situation like this, police are warning drivers about these dangerous conditions. They advise drivers to slow down, avoid standing water, watch out for debris and make sure the vehicle can handle the wet weather. “You have to keep your vehicle in good condition,” McVay said. “Your wipers gotta be good, you have to have good rubber on the road, good tires. Your lights have to work.”
This year has already been busy for meteorologists. It hasn’t been a full week into hurricane season, yet Colin is the third name storm, so far. If Colin doesn’t hit Florida too hard, experts at the National Weather Service said it’s never early enough to get ready. “We see continued rainfall all week,” Garcia said.
Heavy rains could make a mess of the morning commute, so commuters are advised to leave early to make it to your destination on time.
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