Tropical Storm Menacing Florida Gulf Shore Cities
Tropical Storm Marco gained strength as it thundered toward Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday evening.
Forecasters said the storm might come ashore this morning.
Peak winds had risen to 65 m.p.h. and the system was charging north across the Gulf of Mexico at 10 m.p.h., twice as fast as it had been moving earlier in the day.
It was expected to blow ashore between Ft. Myers and Sarasota, forecasters said.
The winds were not expected to reach hurricane force, 74 m.p.h., said forecaster Bob Case. “Coastal flooding and beach erosion will probably be the main problems that it will produce,” he said.
The southwest winds were expected to push tides one to three feet above normal, scour the sandy beaches and dump three or more inches of rain in some sections.
Red Cross workers on the Gulf Coast were on alert and ready to open shelters for evacuees, Florida state disaster specialist Karen Wescott said.
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