Tropical Storm Andrea Threatens Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay area residents can expect some heavy weather over the next day or so as Tropical Storm Andrea makes her way through the Gulf of Mexico.

The entire Tampa Bay area is under a tropical storm warning, according to forecasters at the National Weather Service. The storm system is expected to dump lots of rain on the area, bringing with her chances for isolated tornadoes and heavy winds, said Andrew McKaughan, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Ruskin.

“The biggest threat with the storm is the heavy rain and threat for isolated tornadoes and squall lines,” McKaughan said early Wednesday evening. “The worst of it is going to be tomorrow. (It will) start overnight tonight and (continue) into the day tomorrow.”

Right now Andrea is located about 310 miles southwest of Tampa in the Gulf of Mexico. She has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and is moving on a northerly course, according to a weather service advisory.

McKaughan is urging residents to keep their eyes on the weather and listen for the latest updates.

Andrea is the first named storm of the 2013 Hurricane Season, which just began on June 1.

Stay with Patch for updates on the weather as they become available.