Tropical Storm Emily weakens to depression

Published: Updated:
Cone map via National Hurricane Center

FORT MYERS, Fla. Tropical Storm Emily weakened to a Tropical Depression Monday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center said.

The Tropical Storm warning was discontinued at 5:00 p.m. as maximum sustained winds decreased to 35 mph, the National Hurricane Center said.

The system made landfall at 10:45 a.m. on the island near Bradenton in Manatee County, according to the National Hurricane Center. Flooding is possible for areas of Southwest Florida.

Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for 31 counties in response to the system. WINK News streamed Scott’s latest updates on Facebook:

“While this storm developed quickly overnight and will swiftly move across our state, storms can always develop rapidly and that is why is it so important to be prepared at the start of hurricane season,” Scott said in a statement.

The Skyway Bridge also closed Monday morning in St. Petersburg due to high winds, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The bridge closed around 8:04 a.m., but reopened shortly after 2:30 p.m.

The tropical depression formed around 5 a.m. Monday morning, and later strengthened into Tropical Storm Emily, the National Hurricane Center said.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for Lee, Charlotte and Sarasota counties, specifically from the Anclote River to Bonita Beach, according to the National Hurricane Center.

“On the forecast track, the center of Emily is expected to move inland over the the west-central Florida peninsula later today and move across central Florida through tonight,” according to a National Weather Service Public Advisory. “Emily is expected to move offshore of the east-central Florida coast early Tuesday.”

WINK News reporter Channing Frampton went live via Facebook on Fort Myers Beach:

WINK News reporter Kim Powell was live on Fort Myers Beach as residents and tourists alike shared their reactions to the surprise tropical storm:

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