Heavy showers and thunderstorms continue across the Bay area today as Tropical Storm Colin approaches the Gulf coast.

The Flood Watch for all of our counties has been extended until Tuesday evening. We expect the best chance of heavy rain to be through tonight into very early Tuesday then decreasing chances throughout the day tomorrow.

On the forecast track, the center of Colin will move across northern Florida and southeastern Georgia for the next few hours, and then move near or over the southeastern coast of the United States later today.

However, it's important to note that the strongest winds and heaviest rains are well removed from the center.

Significant coastal flooding has been reported in the Tampa Bay area. High tide is occurring or has occurred. Water levels should be dropping slowly into the evening. Low tide in most areas is just after midnight.

Gusty showers with heavy rain and high wind gusts will still continue on and off through tonight. Tomorrow morning's high tide is not nearly as high astronomically as today's was.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency in 34 Florida counties as Tropical Strom Colin approaches the state from the Gulf of Mexico.

The counties included in the governor's declaration include the Tampa Bay region, much of the Panhandle, central Florida and the counties along the Atlantic beaches in northeast Florida.

Latest warnings:



T.S. Warning is in effect for all coastal areas until further notice



Concerns with high tides coming in the a.m. hours across Bay area Tuesday morning



Flood Watch EXTENDED for all of our counties until Tuesday evening

Current and predicted weather conditions:



Main threats on Monday: heavy rain, gusty wind, potential for few isolated tornadoes/waterspouts

Winds reported Monday morning: 40 mph (Pinellas Point); 44 mph (Albert Whitted Airport); 43 mph (Downtown St. Pete)

Showers and storms become widespread quickly early Monday



Some storms will be strong and will repeat over same locations

Water spouts will be possible

Heaviest rains, strongest winds will affect the region Monday afternoon through Monday night

At its peak so far, storm caused 12,000 power outages for Tampa Electric customers, many of which have been restored



Boating conditions will deteriorate quickly late tonight

Hazardous winds and seas along with thunderstorms will be across the Gulf and Tampa Bay all day Monday into Tuesday

EOC status:

Hillsborough County partially activated its Emergency Operations Center in response to Tropical Storm Colin.

Sandbags being made available at locations across Tampa Bay



State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee activates to Level 2

The Latest (2 a.m.):



At 2 a.m., the center of Tropical Storm Colin was located near latitude 30.2 North, longitude 82.6 West.



Colin is moving toward the northeast near 23 mph (37 km/h). A continued northeastward motion at a faster forward speed is expected over the next 48 hours. On the forecast track, the center of Colin will move across northern Florida and southeastern Georgia for the next few hours, and then move near or over the southeastern coast of the United States later today.



However, it's important to note that the strongest winds and heaviest rains are well removed from the center.

Reports from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts. These winds are occurring mainly over the Atlantic waters well to the east of the center.

Some strengthening is forecast after Colin moves into the Atlantic later today.



Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 230 miles (370 km) from the center.



The estimated minimum central pressure is 1003 mb (29.62 inches).



Power Outages



At its peak so far, the storm caused 12,000 power outages for Tampa Electric customers, many of which have been restored. As of 4:30 p.m., more than 99 percent of Tampa Electric’s customers had power, with the following weather-related power outages remaining:

Hillsborough County: 6,627

Pasco County: 4

Pinellas County: 10

Polk County: 13

The company expects strong winds to continue overnight, with the potential for localized flooding. More than 100 out-of-state utility workers are expected to arrive this evening to supplement Tampa Electric’s crews and to help restore power overnight.

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued from Sarasota County northward, including Tampa Bay.

A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for the coast of Georgia and northeast Florida from Altahama Sound, Georgia to Flagler Beach, Florida.



A Flood Watch is posted for all of our counties until Tuesday evening. Rainfall of 3-6 inches is possible with isolated totals of 8 inches due to deep tropical moisture. This includes: Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee and Polk counties.



Rain totals (through 5 p.m. Monday)

Citrus:

Beverly Hills: 1.09

Crystal River Airport: 2.09

Inverness: 1.06



Hernando:

Shady Hills: 1.35

Weeki Wachee: 1.13

Hernando Beach: 0.34

Spring Hill: 0.85

High Point: 1.06



Pasco:

Holiday: 2.76

Port Richey: 2.48

Land O' Lakes: 1.11

Dade City: 0.74

Blanton: 0.99



Pinellas:

Seminole: 5.4

Harbor Bluffs: 3.88

St. Petersburg: 4.24

Kenneth City: 4.8

Pinellas Park: 3.55

Clearwater Air Park: 4.41

Tarpon Springs: 2.40



Manatee:

Bradenton: 3.25

Anna Maria Island: 2.59

Palmetto: 2.49

Sarasota - The Meadows: 2.83

Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport (SRQ): 1.33

Lakewood Ranch: 1.31



Hillsborough:

MacDill AFB: 1.98

Tampa International Airport (TPA): 2.08

Downtown Tampa: 1.27

Lutz - Cheval: 2.12

Odessa: 1.82

Valrico: 1.42

Thonotosassa: 0.57

Ruskin: 1.69



Polk:

Lake Wales - Country Oaks: 1.35

Davenport: 1.06

Lakeland - Kathleen: 0.84

Winter Haven Airport: 0.61



Gov. Rick Scott: "Floridians should remain vigilant"



The State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee activates to Level 2.

“As we continue to closely monitor this tropical depression, Floridians should remain vigilant and have an emergency plan for their families and businesses in place today," said Gov. Rick Scott. "The level two activation at the State Emergency Operations Center will help state and local emergency management officials work together to ensure our state is ready to respond to any impacts of this weather event.”



Scott, who was scheduled to fly to New York today to meet with presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, is staying in Tallahassee to monitor Tropical Storm Colin.

Located in Tallahassee, the SEOC is the operational and logistical coordination headquarters for the State Emergency Response Team (SERT). The SEOC has three activation levels, with Level 1 being the highest:

Level 3: Normal daily active monitoring

Normal daily active monitoring Level 2: Activation of mission-specific emergency support and planning functions

Activation of mission-specific emergency support and planning functions Level 1: Full activation of all emergency support functions

The 2016 Atlantic Hurricane season runs from June 1 – November 30.