Sarasota County prepares for bad weather this week

Updated at 2 p.m.

Sarasota County is preparing for possible heavy rain later this week as a tropical system is expected to develop in the southern Gulf of Mexico.

The county’s Emergency Operations Center is actively monitoring the tropics, spokeswoman Genevieve Judge said Monday morning. 

Sandbag stations will be set up for residents beginning Tuesday in several areas of the county and Longboat Key.

Other departments, such as Public Works and Public Utilities, are conducting their pre-storm operations, Judge said.

The National Weather Service says showers and thunderstorms are becoming better organized within a broad area of low pressure located over the northwestern Caribbean Sea.

The system is forecast to become Hurricane Helene on Wednesday and continue strengthening as it moves across the eastern Gulf of Mexico. “Heavy rainfall will spread into the Southeast U.S. starting on Wednesday and continuing through Friday, bringing a risk of flash and river flooding,” the update said.

At 2 p.m. Monday, a U.S. Air Force hurricane hunter aircraft was investigating the disturbance, centered about 110 miles south-southwest of Grand Cayman Island. Maximum sustained winds were near 30 mph with higher gusts.

Tropical storm warnings and hurricane watches are already in effect for parts of Mexico and Cuba.

Sarasota County officials are urging residents to be prepared. "While the path and intensity of the disturbance remain uncertain, we encourage our community to review their emergency preparedness plans and ensure they are signed up for alerts," Judge said via email.

Preparedness information and alert sign-up are available online at SCGov.net/BePrepared and by calling 311.