Tropical Storm Cristobal draws nearer to US Gulf Coast

A re-energized Tropical Storm Cristobal continued its vance toward U.S. Gulf Coast early Sunday, having spawned a torno in Florida and brought heavy rains that alrey caused flooding and mudslides in Mexico and Central America. After weakening to a tropical depression while moving over land in Mexico's Gulf coast, Cristobal heed back into sourn Gulf of Mexico from Yucatan Peninsula on Friday and powered back up into a tropical storm. Forecasters said it would arrive on U.S. soil late Sunday but was t expected to grow into a hurricane.

Outer rain bands from storm were spreing across parts of rrn Gulf Coast early Sunday, and conditions were expected to deteriorate. National Hurricane Center in Miami said. Cristobal’s maximum sustained winds remained at 50 mph (85 kph) and it was moving rth at 12 mph (19 kph), centered around 175 miles (280 kilometers) south-southwest from mouth of Mississippi River.

National Hurricane Center said storm was expected to slowly strengn until making landfall Sunday night along U.S. Gulf Coast.But storm alrey me its presence felt Saturday evening with a torno that touched down near downtown Orlando, National Wear Service said. twister just missed a group of protesters at Lake Eola at around 7:30 p.m. re appeared to be injuries, but tree limbs were kcked down, and re were reports of power outs.

“Yes, it is related to tropical storm that is well to our west,” said Scott Kelly, a meteorologist with National Wear Service in Melbourne, Florida. “But tropical storm provided a lot of low level shear and that has allowed for some tornoes to form over Central Florida.” threat for tornoes would continue overnight, he said.

Hurricane Center said storm could cause heavy rains from East Texas to Florida this weekend and into early next week. A tropical storm warning was posted for rrn Gulf of Mexico coast from Intracoastal City, Louisiana, to Alabama-Florida border. Storm surge warnings and watches were in effect in Louisiana and Mississippi, with flooding up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) expected in some places.

In Louisiana, Gov. John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency to prepare for storm’s possible arrival.“w is time to make your plans, which should include tritional emergency items along with masks and hand sanitizer as we continue to battle coronavirus pandemic,” Edwards said in a statement released Thursday.

On Friday, he asked President Donald Trump to declare a pre-landfall emergency for state due to storm's threat. “We are confident that re will be widespre, heavy rainfall and coastal flooding," Edwards said in a letter to White House. “I anticipate need for emergency protective measures, evacuations, and sheltering for high-risk areas. length of possible inundation is unkwn and will likely require post-flood activities.”

Jefferson Parish, a suburb of New Orleans, called for voluntary evacuations Saturday of Jean Lafitte, Lower Lafitte, Crown Point and Barataria because of threat of storm surge, high tides and heavy rain. Residents were urged to move vehicles, boats and campers to higher ground.

“We want to make sure residents are safe as this storm approaches so we are taking all necessary precautions to be fully prepared,” Jean Lafitte Mayor Tim Kerner Jr. told Times-Picayune/ New Orleans vocate.

A similar order was issued Saturday for several Plaquemines Parish communities, including Happy Jack, Grand Bayou, Myrtle Grove, Lake Herti, Harlem and Monsecour. parish's president, Kirk Lepine, said order was issued as a precaution.

“We need to ensure residents are protected as this storm draws near, so we are taking all necessary precautions to be completely prepared,” he said.

hurricane center's forecast path puts Alabama on Cristobal's east side, far from where center comes ashore. Still, southwest part of state is expected to get gusty winds, heavy rain, storm surge and possibly tornoes as storm moves closer to coast.

“Sunday will be very wet and windy as Cristobal passes west of area, placing central Gulf Coast on ‘dirty’ eastern side of storm,” wear service said.

Cristobal formed this week in Bay of Campeche from remnants of Tropical Storm Amanda, which h sprung up last weekend in eastern Pacific and hit Central America. two storms combined to soak region with as much as 35 inches (89 centimeters) of rain in some areas over past week. At least 30 deaths have been attributed to two storms and flooding and landslides y unleashed.

In Bacalar, in south of Mexico's Quintana Roo state, 230 families were isolated by rains and h to be airlifted out, David Leon, Mexico's national civil defense coordinator, said Friday. Leon ded re h been light dam in 75 municipalities in seven states.

(Im Credit: AP)