NHC introduces new warning cone: What you should know
The National Hurricane Center introduced a new, experimental warning cone in August. Here’s what’s changed.
Things remained quiet in the tropics as a sales tax-free period for hurricane and other disaster relief supplies began Saturday, but parts of Florida could be hit by severe weather over the weekend.
No tropical cyclone activity is expected over the next seven days, the National Hurricane Center reported in its latest update.
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However, the hurricane center is tracking two tropical waves: one off the coast of Africa and one in the Caribbean Sea.
The next named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season will be Francine.
Parts of Florida are set to see thunderstorms and heavy rain this weekend, with flash flooding and waterspouts possible along the coast, according to the latest report from AccuWeather.
“Light winds over Florida mean thunderstorms will move slowly and dump enormous amounts of rain,” said AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham. “Rainfall amounts of 2 inches per hour are possible, enough to cause sudden flooding in cities and potentially block some roads with high water.”
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Meanwhile, Florida’s second disaster preparedness sales tax-free day of the year began today and runs through Friday, September 6. The first exemption period was June 1-14.
According to the Florida Department of Revenue, consumers can purchase qualified disaster preparedness supplies sales tax-free during the 2024 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Free Period.
Tax-Free Holiday for Florida Hurricane Disaster Relief 2024
Items eligible for the tax-free holiday include:
- A portable generator used to provide light, communications, or food preservation during a power outage and with a selling price of $3,000 or less.
- A tarp or other flexible, waterproof sheet with a retail price of $100 or less.
- An item normally sold as, or commonly advertised as, a ground anchor system or tie-down kit, with a retail price of $100 or less.
- A smoke detector or smoke alarm with a retail price of $70 or less.
- A fire extinguisher with a retail price of $70 or less.
- A carbon monoxide detector with a retail price of $70 or less.
- A non-electric food storage cooler with a retail price of $60 or less.
- A portable power bank with a retail price of $60 or less.
- A tank of gasoline or diesel with a retail price of $50 or less.
- A self-powered portable radio, two-way radio, or weather radio with a retail price of $50 or less.
- A package of AA, AAA, C, D cell, 6-volt, or 9-volt batteries, excluding automobile and marine batteries, with a retail price of $50 or less.
- A portable, self-powered light source (battery, solar, hand crank, or gas powered) with a retail price of $40 or less, including: flashlights, lanterns, and candles.
- Eligible light sources and radios are affected by the tax exemption, even if power cables are included in the purchase price.
- Reusable ice (ice packs) with a retail price of $20 or less.
➤ Complete list of VAT exempt items
Observing the tropics: What is there and how likely is an intensification?
- First wave: A tropical wave in the Atlantic Ocean has a strength of about 40 W, comes from 20 N towards the south and moves westward at 17 to 27 km/h.
- Second wave: A tropical wave in the Caribbean is located at 84W, southward from 22N, and moving westward at 17 mph. Isolated moderate and isolated strong convection is observed near the wave axis over the northwestern Caribbean.
National Hurricane Center map
The National Hurricane Center is not currently expecting or monitoring tropical cyclone activity.
Weather observations and warnings issued in Florida
Heavy rainfall forecast
When is hurricane season in Florida?
The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30 each year, with the most active period being between August and October.
When is the peak of hurricane season?
The peak of the season is September 10, with peak activity occurring between mid-August and mid-October, according to the National Hurricane Center.
What happens next?
We’ll continue to update our tropical weather coverage daily. Download your local website’s app to make sure you’re always up to date with the news. And look out for our special subscription offers here.
Contributor: Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY Network-Florida
