NAPLES, Fla. — Tropical Storm Fay rolled ashore in Florida on Tuesday short of hurricane strength, but gained speed as it headed over land, bringing heavy rain, high wind and tornadoes.
The storm first hit the Florida Keys, veered out to sea and then traversed east across the state, dumping knee-deep water in some streets, downed trees and plunged 58,000 homes and businesses into the dark. A tornado ripped through Brevard County, damaging 51 homes, nine severely.
But so far, residents said it wasn’t as bad they feared.
Forecasters posted a hurricane watch for parts of Florida and Georgia because Fay’s chances of strengthening increased as it remained over land. Its top sustained winds increased during the day by 5 mph to 65 mph. A hurricane has winds of at least 74 mph.
Tropical storms and hurricanes do occasionally strengthen while over land, said Eric Blake, a specialist at the National Hurricane Center. Forecasters are not certain why it is occurring with Fay, but it moved over the flat, swampy Everglades, which has ample warm water that storms need for energy.
Most residents said the biggest problems were heavy rain, wind and some debris-strewn streets. In South Florida, most businesses chose to go without any shutters or other window protection.
In the Tampa Bay area, Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough counties lifted evacuation orders affecting mobile home residents and others in vulnerable areas when the storm failed to reach hurricane status after making landfall. But schools and government offices remained closed.
Flooding remained a concern as Fay heads up the Florida peninsula, with rainfall amounts forecast between 5 and 15 inches. The storm could also push tides 1 to 3 feet above normal and spawn more tornadoes.
Farther north, farmers in drought-stricken North and South Carolina were hoping for a drenching from Fay but may have to keep their fingers crossed for a few more days.
National Weather Service meteorologist Doug Outlaw said it was not clear whether the storm would track north to the Carolinas or veer over Tennessee. A high pressure system was expected to stall it over Florida and Georgia this week.
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