Hurricane Sandy's outer bands continue to impact the East Coast of Florida, bringing squall-like weather and tropical storm-force winds to parts of the region, while the Bay area remains dry but windy.
As of the 11 p.m. advisory, Sandy remains a hurricane as it moves slowly northward away from the Bahamas.
In Florida, a tropical storm warning is in effect for the Florida East Coast from north of Jupiter Inlet to St. Augustine. A tropical storm watch is in effect for the Florida East coast from north of St. Augustine to Fernandina Beach.
Over the weekend, Sandy will be moving away from the Bahamas, as our next cold front moves into the area. Drier and much cooler conditions return at this time. It will remain windy on Saturday.
"As Sandy departs, a strong cold front will swing in behind it and bring a big change of chilly weather for us by early next week. Our forecast remains dry well into next week," said Bay News 9 Chief Meteorologist Mike Clay. "It will continue to be windy over the weekend with dangerous boating conditions, maybe into Monday as well."
Wind gusts of 40 mph were reported in Winter Haven and 30 mph in St. Petersburg on Friday.
Sandy made landfall over Cuba and Jamaica before moving to the Bahamas.
Sandy is forecast to continue a general northward motion, followed by a turn toward the north-northeast with an increase in forward speed on Saturday and a turn toward the northeast on Sunday.
On the forecast track, the center of sandy will be moving away from the northwestern Bahamas. Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph, with higher gusts.
As it moves away from the Bahamas, strong onshore winds for the Florida east coastline, with gusts to 50 mph and higher along the coast are expected.
Florida’s east coast is also experiencing dangerous boating and surf conditions, along with major beach erosion and extremely dangerous surf conditions, including strong rip currents. Sandy is moving toward the north near 7 mph.
Sandy is a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Some weakening is forecast during the next day or two.