Florida Panhandle braces for tropical storm impacts

(The Center Square) – Tropical Depression Two is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm Monday, bringing heavy rain, dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents to Florida’s Panhandle, forecasters said.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the entire Panhandle coastline from Franklin County to Escambia County. While a Florida landfall is not likely, the National Weather Service in Tallahassee is forecasting rain, gusty showers, rip-currents and heavy surf.

“The main impacts across the northeast Gulf Coast will continue to revolve around bands of gusty showers. A few of the rain bands may pose a tornado threat in the coastal Florida Big Bend, otherwise a brief tropical storm gusts to 35 or 40 mph,” the NWS said Monday.

The threat of tornadoes exists Monday afternoon into the night with the potential for tornado damage and disruptions to power along the Big Bend. Meanwhile, residents and visitors are being dissuaded from swimming during any periods of high surf and to follow beach flag recommendat...