Claudette nears Florida

PENSACOLA BEACH, Fla. – Claudette was close to coming ashore along the Florida Panhandle late Sunday, with the first tropical storm expected to strike the U.S. mainland this year already dumping heavy rain in some areas.

Claudette had winds of at least 50 mph but was not expected to cause significant flooding or wind damage. Lurking more ominously was Tropical Storm Bill, which was expected to turn into a hurricane today as it moves over warm waters in the open Atlantic.

A trickle of cars and SUVs with surfboards on top headed east along the Panhandle as surfers were catching waves whipped up by Claudette. On Pensacola Beach, the National Park Service closed low-lying roads that connect the restaurants and hotels to the undeveloped National Seashore and historic Fort Pickens. The Park Service said campers would be ordered to leave the area because of the likelihood of the road flooding.

Rainfall of 3 to 6 inches was expected, with isolated areas getting up to 10 inches along the Panhandle, the Big Bend region, central and southern Alabama and southwestern Georgia, forecasters said.

“We may see some heavy rains as a result, but we don’t expect any high winds or coastal flooding,” said John Dosh, manager of Emergency Management. “This event is a good example of how quickly a tropical storm can develop. We won’t always have a lot of warning. This is why citizens need to be prepared throughout hurricane season.”