UPDATE: Tropical Storm Mindy raked across the Florida panhandle over night. Now, Tropical Depression Mindy is on the move this morning after making landfall last night in Florida as a weak tropical storm.

This morning, the #GOESEast 🛰️ is watching Hurricane #Larry moving over the Atlantic and what is now Tropical Depression #Mindy moving across the Southeast. This Air Mass imagery allows us to study temperature and moisture characteristics of air masses. pic.twitter.com/t5uw7ccNIf

— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) September 9, 2021

Tropical Depression Mindy is moving rapidly to the east and as a front continues to rapidly push it away to the Atlantic. For today, those behind the front will see clearing and a less humid airmass, and those in front will still have chances of afternoon storms. #gawx pic.twitter.com/HbuXCsjahs

— NWS Atlanta (@NWSAtlanta) September 9, 2021

We are keeping an eye on a major system still over land in Africa that has a 50% chance of development into our next major storm…possibly Nicholas or Odette.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Tropical Storm a Mindy formed Wednesday afternoon just 90 miles off the coast of the Florida panhandle. Mindy is moving northeast at 21 mph with 45 mph winds. It is heading toward Mexico Beach which was wiped out by Hurricane Michael October 7, 2018.

Michael was a category 5 hurricane (on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale) that made a catastrophic landfall near Mexico Beach and Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, producing devastating winds and storm surge near the coast, and rain and wind inland. It was directly responsible for 16 deaths and about $25 billion in damage in the United States.

Mindy is no Michael, still residents need to prepare for the storm which will begin coming ashore later this evening. Mindy is expected to produce storm total rainfall of 2 to 4 inches with maximum amounts of 6 inches across the Florida Panhandle into southern portions of Georgia, and South Carolina through Thursday morning. This rainfall may produce isolated to scattered flash, urban, and small stream flooding.

5 PM CDT Sep 8 — NOAA Buoy data indicates that Tropical Storm #Mindy is a little stronger, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph with an estimated minimum central pressure of 1004 mb.

Latest Update: https://t.co/BXqd6SunL5 pic.twitter.com/gyLkUXBCAD

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 8, 2021

BULLETIN
Tropical Storm Mindy Advisory Number 1
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL132021
400 PM CDT Wed Sep 08 2021

…NEW TROPICAL STORM FORMS IN THE NORTHEAST GULF OF MEXICO…
…TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS ISSUED FOR THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE…

SUMMARY OF 400 PM CDT…2100 UTC…INFORMATION
———————————————-
LOCATION…29.0N 86.3W
ABOUT 90 MI…150 KM WSW OF APALACHICOLA FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…40 MPH…65 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…NE OR 50 DEGREES AT 21 MPH…33 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…1008 MB…29.77 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS
——————–
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for the coast of the
Florida Panhandle from Mexico Beach to Steinhatchee River.