Tropical Storm Andrea, the first tropical storm of the 2013 season, has formed in the Gulf of Mexico. As the storm is anticipated to track along the eastern coastline, heavy rain is expected in this area late this evening and into Saturday morning. It is anticipated that winds will gust close to 35 mph Friday night and into Saturday.
The strongest winds are anticipated to be offshore in the Atlantic. Due to the storm’s speed and track, it is anticipated to be a fast mover through Friday and Saturday.
The National Weather Service is placing strong confidence in this forecast and predicting hourly rainfall potential may be around two inches an hour in some locations within the state.
Overall in Lyme and Old Lyme, two to four inches of rainfall are expected, which would create minor flooding conditions such as roadway erosion and water-over-road conditions in low-lying areas. Sharp rises in some small streams are expected Friday evening.
While this tropical storm is not anticipated to create large scale damage locally, residents can expect scattered downed tree limbs and isolated power outages. In addition it is anticipated that homes and businesses with poor or restricted drainage may experience water in basement or standing water conditions.
Old Lyme Emergency Management recommends that residents review their contingency plans with family and friends and share the links for Old Lyme Emergency Management on Facebook and @oldlymeeoc on Twitter for the latest information and updates.