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Hernando Today

Fay's Finale

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By TONY HOLT

Published: August 24, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - The expected arrival of Tropical Storm Fay early this week resulted in little more than a drill for the Tampa area.

A few days later, the persistent storm made its way back to Florida – only to douse the region with some much-needed rain.

Brooksville was still seeing the effects from Fay's southern-most storm bands as of Saturday afternoon. Sporadic showers added to the significant rainfall from the day before.

"You're seeing some spotty thunderstorms, but it's not the same coverage as (Brooksville) has had lately," said AccuWeather meteorologist Michael Sager Saturday. "The system has moved far enough away."

The southern edge of the storm was still hovering over Hernando County as of 1 p.m. Saturday. More rain was expected throughout the afternoon and evening.

Scattered showers also are in the forecast today, with a 70-percent change of rain both in the morning and afternoon, according to the National Weather Service in Ruskin.

By tonight, the chance of rain will be reduced to 30 percent.

Wind gusts between 10 and 20 miles per hour also were reported in Hernando County during the weekend.

A tornado warning was in effect in Hernando County until 3 p.m. Saturday. Sager said the atmosphere had just "enough twist" to where a few tornadoes could spawn throughout the afternoon, but nothing was reported.

Other areas in Florida, from the West Coast to the Panhandle – reported upward of two feet of rain during the week.

Dispatchers have not received any storm-related emergency calls since Friday, when a pine tree toppled over behind a house off Mondon Hill Road in Brooksville.

Meteorologists are taking a close look at the Atlantic basin during the next few days due to some "potential for tropical storm development," Sager said.

Low wind shear, squally weather and a couple of tropical waves were reported Saturday afternoon east of the Windward and Leeward Islands, according to the National Weather Service.

Fay Timeline

Friday, Aug. 15 – National Hurricane Center declares Fay a Tropical Storm – eight days after a tropical wave forms off the African coast

Saturday, Aug. 16 – Storm kills three people in Dominican Republic and one in Haiti

Monday, Aug. 18 – Hits Key West in the late afternoon; would be the first of four Florida landfalls

Tuesday, Aug. 19 – Fay strikes Naples; later that afternoon, winds strengthen to 65 miles per hour while over Central Florida

Thursday, Aug. 21 – Makes another landfall at Flagler Beach; dumps nearly a foot of rain in Melbourne in 24 hours

Friday, Aug. 22 – Three inches of rain reported in Hernando County from the storm

Saturday, Aug. 23 – Fourth reported landfall at the Florida Panhandle

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5823 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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