We Said 'Rainstorm,' Not 'Tropical Storm'

By NEIL JOHNSON The Tampa Tribune

Published: Jun 2, 2007

TAMPA - The first day of hurricane season brought much-needed rain as the second storm of the year, Tropical Storm Barry, formed Friday in the Gulf of Mexico with an expected landfall this afternoon about 90 miles north of Tampa.

National Hurricane Center forecasters said Barry had winds of about 50 mph and was expected to lose some strength before hitting land near the Suwannee River.

The hurricane center issued a tropical storm warning Friday afternoon from Bonita Beach, near Fort Myers, to the Taylor County community of Keaton Beach, in what is often considered the southern portion of the state's Big Bend. A tropical storm warning means winds of at least 40 mph were expected within 24 hours.

If Barry stays on its forecasted track, it will be the third season in a row a tropical storm hit Florida during June. Barry would be the earliest of the three.

For the Tampa Bay area, Barry may bring some windy conditions this morning, with possible gusts up to 30 mph inland and 50 mph near the coast. The winds will diminish through the afternoon.

The main result from Barry, if it stays on the forecasted track, will be about 3 to 5 inches of rain and a storm surge of 3 to 5 feet during high tide this afternoon, said Paul Close, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Ruskin. Close said Florida is a frequent target for early tropical storms because the Caribbean, where Barry started forming Thursday, is warm. But the storms hit cooler water in the Gulf and do not have much chance to grow in strength.

In 2006, Tropical Storm Alberto hit the Panhandle on June 13, and Tropical Storm Arlene hit near Pensacola on June 11, 2005.

Barry's rains won't be enough to bust the stubborn drought, state meteorologist Ben Nelson said. But the storm may help ease dangerous wildfire conditions. The storm's track is expected to take it over northeast Florida, one of the driest regions and an area plagued by wildfires.

The rain from Barry was the first measurable rainfall at Tampa International Airport since May 6. As of 10 p.m. Friday, the weather service said nearly half an inch had fallen.

The last time the airport received more than 1 inch of rain in a day was Christmas.

Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at njohnson@tampatrib.com or (352) 544-5214.