‘Good news’ about Karen

Published 8:33 pm Friday, October 4, 2013

Escambia County Emergency Management Director David Adams had “good news” about Tropical Storm Karen late Friday.

“The latest data from the NWS has the track of Karen shifted slightly to the east from previous tracks,” Adams said. “If this track holds, it will place Escambia County more to the west side of the center which is typically less intense than the east side.

The storm has also lost strength, with sustained winds of 50 mph, and has slowed to 7 mph.

The inland forecast rainfall with this system has also been reduced to 1 to 3 inches with locally higher totals possible.

“We are still well within the forecast cone and still could see substantial impacts,” Adams said. “There is a slight chance of the development of tornadoes with this system. Any tornadoes that do develop should be small and short lived.”