On Wednesday evening a weak area of low pressure located about 285 miles southwest of Tampa in the Gulf of Mexico intensified into Tropical Storm Andrea. At midnight Andrea was still a minimal tropical storm located about 260 miles west southwest of Tampa and the system was moving to the north to north northeast at 7mph. Maximum winds are 40mph with higher gusts in squalls. Only slight additional intensification is expected before Andrea makes landfall at or just north of Cedar Key late Thursday afternoon.

The main threat to Florida from Andrea will be from scattered heavy rain squalls as a main feeder band, currently hitting southwest Florida moves to the north and northeast overnight. Showers and possible thunderstorms on Thursday starting early in the morning and continuing into the evening. A chance does exist for isolated tornadoes from early Thursday morning through Thursday evening. Areas that receive heavier rains could experience localized flooding on Thursday.
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