HLSTAE THIS PRODUCT COVERS EASTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE, FLORIDA BIG BEND, SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHWESTERN GEORGIA

**PERIPHERAL IMPACTS OF BERTHA TO BE FELT IN COASTAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING**

NEW INFORMATION ---------------

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - NONE

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR COASTAL BAY AND SOUTH WALTON

* STORM INFORMATION: - ABOUT 110 MILES SOUTH OF PANAMA CITY, OR ABOUT 110 MILES SOUTHWEST OF APALACHICOLA - 28.7N 86.4W - STORM INTENSITY 50 MPH - MOVEMENT NORTHWEST OR 315 DEGREES AT 5 MPH

SITUATION OVERVIEW ------------------

...COASTAL COMMUNITIES WILL EXPERIENCE PERIPHERAL IMPACTS OF TROPICAL STORM BERTHA THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING...

AT 4 AM CDT, THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WAS LOCATED ABOUT 110 MILES SOUTH OF PANAMA CITY. BERTHA HAS BEGUN MOVING TO THE NORTHWEST NEAR 5 MPH. A SLOW NORTHWESTWARD TO WEST-NORTHWESTWARD MOTION IS EXPECTED TODAY FOLLOWED BY A TURN WESTWARD AROUND WEDNESDAY. ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE CORE OF TROPICAL STORM BERTHA IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN OFFSHORE AS IT PASSES SOUTH OF THE PANHANDLE.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS WERE NEAR 50 MPH. THOSE STRONGEST WINDS WILL REMAIN OFFSHORE, BUT PERIPHERAL IMPACTS AROUND THE EDGE OF BERTHA WILL BE EXPERIENCED IN COASTAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING. IMPACTS INCLUDE DANGEROUS BEACH CONDITIONS FROM RIP CURRENTS AND VERY ROUGH SURF, MINOR COASTAL FLOODING, DANGEROUS MARINE CONDITIONS FROM LARGE WAVES AND STRONG WINDS, AND GUSTY WINDS IN SQUALLS.

STORM SURGE ALONG THE COAST OF APALACHEE BAY WILL BRING 1 TO 3 FEET OF INUNDATION OVER NORMALLY DRY GROUND NEAR THE SHORELINE DURING TIMES OF HIGH TIDE THIS MORNING. WEST OF INDIAN PASS, INCLUDING THE COASTS OF GULF, BAY, AND WALTON COUNTIES, STORM SURGE INUNDATION OF 1 TO 2 FEET IS EXPECTED OVER NORMALLY DRY GROUND NEAR THE SHORELINE DURING TIMES OF HIGH TIDE THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING.

LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS EXPECTED ALONG AND SOUTH OF I-10 IN FLORIDA. ISOLATED FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES, WITH ISOLATED SPOTS NEAR 5 INCHES, ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH WEDNESDAY, ESPECIALLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF I-10.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS -----------------

* WIND: LITTLE TO NO SERIOUS IMPACTS ARE ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME ACROSS EASTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE, FLORIDA BIG BEND, SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHWESTERN GEORGIA.

* SURGE: PREPARE FOR LOCALLY HAZARDOUS SURGE HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE AND BIG BEND COASTS. POTENTIAL IMPACTS IN THIS AREA INCLUDE: - LOCALIZED INUNDATION WITH STORM SURGE FLOODING MAINLY ALONG IMMEDIATE SHORELINES AND IN LOW-LYING SPOTS, OR IN AREAS FARTHER INLAND NEAR WHERE HIGHER SURGE WATERS MOVE ASHORE. - SECTIONS OF NEAR-SHORE ROADS AND PARKING LOTS BECOME OVERSPREAD WITH SURGE WATER. DRIVING CONDITIONS DANGEROUS IN PLACES WHERE SURGE WATER COVERS THE ROAD. - MODERATE BEACH EROSION. HEAVY SURF ALSO BREACHING DUNES, MAINLY IN USUALLY VULNERABLE LOCATIONS. STRONG RIP CURRENTS. - MINOR TO LOCALLY MODERATE DAMAGE TO MARINAS, DOCKS, BOARDWALKS, AND PIERS. A FEW SMALL CRAFT BROKEN AWAY FROM MOORINGS.

ELSEWHERE ACROSS EASTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE, FLORIDA BIG BEND, SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHWESTERN GEORGIA, LITTLE TO NO IMPACT IS ANTICIPATED.

* FLOODING RAIN: PREPARE FOR LOCALLY HAZARDOUS RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS EASTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE, FLORIDA BIG BEND, SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHWESTERN GEORGIA. POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE: - LOCALIZED RAINFALL FLOODING MAY PROMPT A FEW EVACUATIONS. - RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES MAY QUICKLY RISE WITH SWIFTER CURRENTS. SMALL STREAMS, CREEKS, AND DITCHES MAY BECOME SWOLLEN AND OVERFLOW IN SPOTS. - FLOOD WATERS CAN ENTER A FEW STRUCTURES, ESPECIALLY IN USUALLY VULNERABLE SPOTS. A FEW PLACES WHERE RAPID PONDING OF WATER OCCURS AT UNDERPASSES, LOW-LYING SPOTS, AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. SEVERAL STORM DRAINS AND RETENTION PONDS BECOME NEAR-FULL AND BEGIN TO OVERFLOW. SOME BRIEF ROAD AND BRIDGE CLOSURES.

PRECAUTIONARY PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ----------------------------------

* EVACUATIONS: FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF LOCAL OFFICIALS

* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION: NOW IS THE TIME TO CHECK YOUR EMERGENCY PLAN AND EMERGENCY SUPPLIES KIT AND TAKE NECESSARY ACTIONS TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY AND SECURE YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.

WHEN MAKING SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS DECISIONS, DO NOT FOCUS ON THE EXACT FORECAST TRACK SINCE HAZARDS SUCH AS FLOODING RAIN, DAMAGING WIND GUSTS, AND STORM SURGE EXTEND WELL AWAY FROM THE CENTER OF THE STORM.

IF YOU ARE A VISITOR, KNOW THE NAME OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH YOU ARE LOCATED AND WHERE IT IS RELATIVE TO CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS. IF STAYING AT A HOTEL, ASK THE MANAGEMENT STAFF ABOUT THEIR ONSITE DISASTER PLAN. LISTEN FOR EVACUATION ORDERS, ESPECIALLY PERTAINING TO AREA VISITORS.

CLOSELY MONITOR WEATHER.GOV, NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS FOR OFFICIAL STORM INFORMATION. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE CHANGES TO THE FORECAST.

* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION: - FOR INFORMATION ON APPROPRIATE PREPARATIONS SEE READY.GOV - FOR ADDITIONAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION SEE REDCROSS.ORG

NEXT UPDATE -----------

THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TALLAHASSEE FL AROUND 10 AM CDT, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS WARRANT.