Tropical storm Hermine transitioned to a hurricane at around 3 p.m. Thursday after reaching sustained winds of 75 miles per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Although a tornado watch has been issued for Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Polk, Brevard, and Volusia counties, the storm has not been evaluated to produce much of an impact on Central Florida.
The current tornado watch will expire at approximately 11 p.m. Rain estimates for Central Florida will be in the low-to-mid single digits, according to the National Weather Service.
Florida Governor Rick Scott issued a state of emergency for 51 counties in the state before the storm transitioned to tropical storm status. Scott ordered all state offices to close at noon Thursday.
At a press conference Thursday morning, Scott said that the life-threatening storm calls for evacuations to counties in the path of Hurricane Hermine. The governor has also mobilized 6,000 National Guard troops to aid in any recovery efforts.
“I don’t want to put anyone’s life at risk. I don’t want to put any rescuer’s life at risk. We cannot rescue you in the middle of the storm,” Scott said. “We’ll do everything to prepare, but you are responsible.”
Mandatory evacuations were issued for Dixie, Franklin, Taylor, and Wakulla counties and voluntary evacuations were issued for Gulf, Jefferson, and Walton counties.
Weather officials expect Hurricane Hermine to strengthen before making landfall tonight or early Friday morning.
