Tropical Storm Watch for Legoland, Space Coast, and Vero Beach. Attractions Area Barely in the Cone. Don’t Panic.

First things first… the overall message remains the same as last night:

  • This won’t be a major hurricane. It probably won’t even become a hurricane at all.
  • This might bring some heavy rain, but the worst of the rain will likely be well south of the Attractions area.
  • We’ll have to keep an eye out on Saturday for possible tornadoes, but the risk seems relatively low at the moment.
  • Don’t panic. This isn’t Irma.

Now, having said that, let’s dive in.

The National Hurricane Center has designated the remnants of Hurricane Agatha as “Potential Tropical Cyclone One.” That means that, although it’s not yet a tropical storm or even a tropical depression, it’s likely enough to become one that they feel they should go ahead and start generating a cone. In this case, they’ve also issued some coastal tropical storm watches, and the National Weather service has backed that up with some inland watches, too.

Here’s what it means for the Attractions area.

Orange County (Home of Disney, Universal and Sea World)

There are no current watches or warnings related to the storm. The area is within the cone of uncertainty for the center of the storm, but just barely. The Saturday forecast calls for a 70% chance of rain, and wind gusts of up to 20 MPH. In other words, typical summer weather.

Osceola County (just south of Disney)

Tropical Storm Watch is in effect. Here are some key points from the National Weather Service:

554 PM EDT Thu Jun 2 2022

A Tropical Storm Watch means tropical storm-force winds are possible
somewhere within this area within the next 48 hours

* LOCATIONS AFFECTED
    - Kissimmee
    - Yeehaw Junction
    - Harmony

* WIND
    - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Below tropical storm force wind
        - Peak Wind Forecast: 15-25 mph with gusts to 40 mph

* FLOODING RAIN
    - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST:
        - Peak Rainfall Amounts: 1-2 inches

* TORNADO
    - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST:
        - Situation is somewhat favorable for tornadoes

Polk County (Home of Legoland Florida)

A tropical storm watch is in effect. From the NWS:

532 PM EDT Thu Jun 2 2022

...TROPICAL STORM WATCH IN EFFECT...

A Tropical Storm Watch means tropical storm-force winds are possible
somewhere within this area within the next 48 hours

* LOCATIONS AFFECTED
    - Lakeland
    - Winter Haven
    - Bartow

* WIND
    - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Below tropical storm force wind
        - Peak Wind Forecast: 10-20 mph with gusts to 30 mph


* FLOODING RAIN
    - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST:
        - Peak Rainfall Amounts: Additional around 1 inch


* TORNADO
    - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST:
        - Situation is unfavorable for tornadoes

Brevard County (Home of Port Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center)

A tropical storm watch is in effect. From the NWS:

554 PM EDT Thu Jun 2 2022

...TROPICAL STORM WATCH IN EFFECT...

A Tropical Storm Watch means tropical storm-force winds are possible
somewhere within this area within the next 48 hours

* LOCATIONS AFFECTED
    - Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge
    - Playalinda Beach

* WIND
    - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Below tropical storm force wind
        - Peak Wind Forecast: 25-35 mph with gusts to 45 mph


* STORM SURGE
    - No storm surge inundation forecast


* FLOODING RAIN
    - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST:
        - Peak Rainfall Amounts: 1-2 inches

* TORNADO
    - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST:
        - Situation is unfavorable for tornadoes

Indian River County (home to Disney’s Vero Beach Resort)

A tropical storm watch is in effect. From the NWS:

...TROPICAL STORM WATCH IN EFFECT...

A Tropical Storm Watch means tropical storm-force winds are possible
somewhere within this area within the next 48 hours

* LOCATIONS AFFECTED
    - Vero Beach
    - Sebastian


* WIND
    - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Below tropical storm force wind
        - Peak Wind Forecast: 20-30 mph with gusts to 45 mph


* STORM SURGE
    - No storm surge inundation forecast


* FLOODING RAIN
    - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Flood Watch is in effect
        - Peak Rainfall Amounts: 4-6 inches, with locally higher
          amounts


* TORNADO
    - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST:
        - Situation is somewhat favorable for tornadoes

Keep calm and carry on!

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