Post-tropical storm Colin gains strength as it moves away to the mid-Atlantic

5 p.m. update:

The National Hurricane Center issued the last advisory about post-tropical storm Colin on Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Colin is racing toward the mid-Atlantic now as a port-tropical storm. Maximum sustained winds are at 60 mph. Tropical storm force winds extend mainly to the southeast outward up to 240 mph. It could have some strengthening, but then a quick weakening starting on Wednesday.

There are no tropical storm watches of warnings in effect. Colin is not expected to threaten land.

11:10 a.m.

Tropical Storm Colin continues to speed away from the southeastern United States.

The National Weather Service said Colin was about 120 miles southwest of Cape Hatteras at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Highest winds were 60 mph. The storm itself was moving northeast at 35 mph.

“Tropical Storm Colin is no more. It was absorbed by a front off the coast of the Carolinas and the overall storm system continues to head out to sea. It has left moisture in its wake for us. We’ll still have a 40 percent chance of scattered showers and storms this afternoon. Plus, that tropical feel is in place. Highs will be in the upper 80s and it’ll be muggy,” Severe Weather Center 9 meteorologist Brian Shields said.

Forecasters said that should mean that high winds and rains should be ending soon on North Carolina's Outer Banks.

A tropical storm warning was dropped from north of Wilmington, North Carolina, to Cape Lookout, North Carolina.

The warning was still in effect from Cape Lookout to Oregon Inlet, though forecasters said that warning probably would be dropped early Tuesday afternoon.

The hurricane center said another 1 inch to 2 inches of rain could still fall along the Outer Banks.

Up to 3 more inches of rain were still possible in central Florida.

5 a.m. update:

All Central Florida tropical storm warnings were canceled Tuesday morning as Tropical Storm Colin pushed out into the Atlantic Ocean.

Colin brought sustained winds of 30 mph and gusts up to 40 mph.

Rainfall totals from Tropical Storm Colin topped five inches in some parts of Central Florida.

Rainfall totals recorded so far:

The Villages: 5.37 inches

Ocala: 4.08 inches

Palm Coast: 4.01 inches

Doctor Phillips: 2.40 inches

Lake Mary: 2.04 inches

University of Central Florida: 1.68 inches

3:25 a.m. update:

A much quieter weather day is expected today across the area as Tropical Storm Colin continues to push well away from the area over the western Atlantic.

Drier air should arrive in the mid-upper levels, setting up increasingly sunny skies.

With high dewpoints in the lower 70s still prevalent across the area early this morning, and temperatures within a degree or two of the dewpoint, we expect steady temperatures in the low 70s through daybreak.

This should be followed by a very warm day with highs in the lower 90s.

2 a.m. update:

Colin made landfall after midnight on June 7th. It remains moving northeast at 23 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 50mph.

Tropical storm warnings have been discontinued along Florida’s Gulf coast from Suwannee River to Indian Pass. Across Central Forida storms continue to race to the east at about 45 mph, some are producing 50 mph wind gusts.

11 p.m. update:

Colin will be making landfall shortly in the Big Bend area in north Florida. Continues with 50 mph maximum sustained winds.

The storm will continue to travel northeast at 22 mph, crossing over northern Florida and by 2 a.m. Tuesday the storms should be exiting southeastern Georgia. Colin will be bordering the Carolinas, where a tropical storm warning is in effect. The extensive cloud deck will continue to cover Florida overnight bringing bands of showers and thunderstorms

8 p.m. update:

Colin continues to race toward Florida and maintains its maximum sustained winds at 50 mph. Located at 35 miles south-southwest of Apalachicola.

Colin is forecast to make landfall shortly after 8 p.m. somewhere on the Big Bend area near Port Leon.

Central Florida has experience tropical storm force winds at times. Here are some of the highest reported:

Showers and thunderstorms will continue during this evening coming in bands, some thunderstorms could produce gusty winds and there is a threat for some tornadoes developing.

As the system moves over northern Florida the threat of tornadoes will also shift northward with its center. Central Florida could still have some showers and embedded thunderstorms overnight. 

5 p.m. 

Tropical Storm Colin is 70 miles south-southwest of Apalachicola and 190 miles west-northwest of Tampa. Maximum sustained winds remained the same at 50 mph and it continues to move to the north-northeast at 23 mph. The increase in speed will continue.

Central Florida started to receive heavier rain bands mid-afternoon on Monday and these will continue throughout the evening. Some rain showers will have embedded thunderstorms that could be severe, even with the chance of producing funnel clouds and tornadoes.

Storms are racing north-northeast above 50 mph.

1 p.m.

Tropical Storm Colin's maximum sustained winds Monday are near 40 mph (65 kph) with some strengthening forecast before reaching the Florida coast. The storm was centered early Monday morning about 410 miles (665 kilometers) southwest of Tampa and moving north near 10 mph (16 kph).

The Florida Highway Patrol has closed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to traffic due to high winds from Tropical Storm Colin.

The bridge, which spans Tampa Bay between Pinellas and Manatee counties, was shut down Monday. It's unknown when it will reopen.

11:30 a.m.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency in 34 Florida counties as Tropical Storm Colin approaches the state from the Gulf of Mexico. Scott signed the order Monday morning.

A large swath of Florida is under a tropical storm warning. The counties included in the governor's declaration include the Tampa Bay region, much of the Panhandle, central Florida and the counties along the Atlantic beaches in northeast Florida.

“Colin is on track to bring a chance of severe weather later today. Some rain bands will move in and an isolated tornado is possible. Also, localized flooding is a concern where the heaviest rain sets up. Fortunately, Colin is moving at a decent clip, and will be northeast of us tomorrow,” said Severe Weather Center 9 meteorologist Brian Shields.

Heavy rain is expected, and many coastal communities are providing sandbags for residents in low-lying areas prone to flooding.

The Orange County Government said it “continues to monitor Tropical Storm Colin. Based on the current forecast, which calls for approximately four inches of rain throughout Tuesday afternoon, the County does not anticipate activation of its Emergency Operations Center. Citizens may contact 311 with questions or concerns.”

Daniel Brown, a senior hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, says strong wind shear and the system's poor organization make it unlikely that Colin will strengthen before reaching Florida's coastline.

Cedar Key Public Works Director Bill Crandley said he anticipates flooding on the island, and many tourists are buckling down.

“It was packed until last night. Then everybody started leaving," said Cedar Key tourist Mary Dyal.

• Hurricane Season Links & Resources
• Duke Energy news release on TS Colin
• Red Cross of Central Florida urges residents to prepare for power outages
• How to protect yourself from price gouging during emergency

For information, maps and graphics about this system visit our Eye in the Tropics Section on WFTV.com.

Take us with you, wherever you go and receive alerts right to your smart phone by downloading our WFTV Weather app. 

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Actualización 5 p.m.:

El Centro Nacional de Huracanes emitió el último boletín sobre lo que queda de la tormenta Colin a las 5 p.m. el martes.

Colin en camino hacia en Centro del Atlántico rápidamente ahora como una tormenta post-tropical. Con vientos máximos sostenidos de 60 mph y estos se extienden a 240 mph hacia el sureste. Colin pudiese intensificarse un poco más y después debilitarse rápidamente comenzando el miércoles.

No existen ningún tipo de vigilancias o avisos en vigor y no se espera que Colin amenace a ningún otro territorio.

Actualización 2 a.m:

Colin toco tierra un poco después de la media noche el 7 de junio. El sistema continúa moviéndose al noreste a 23 mph con vientos máximos sostenidos de 50mph.

El aviso de tormenta tropical fue descontinuado para la costa del Golfo de la Florida desde Indian Pass hasta el Río Suwannee.

Actualización 11 p.m:

Colin estará tocando tierra dentro de poco tiempo en el norte de Florida. Continúa con vientos máximos sostenidos de 50mph.

Colin continúa moviéndose rápidamente a 22mph, cruzando la porción norte de Florida. Se espera que la tormenta este saliendo rumbo al Atlántico alrededor de las 2 a.m. el martes. Se pronostica que la tormenta bordee la costa de las Carolinas en donde ya están bajo un aviso de tormenta tropical. El campo de nubosidad extendiéndose desde la península de Yucatán continuara trayendo lluvias y tormentas intermitentes para Florida durante la noche y martes por la mañana.

Actualización 8 p.m:

Colin se mueve rápidamente hacia Florida y mantiene sus vientos máximos sostenidos en 50 mph. Está ubicado a 35 millas al sur-suroeste de Apalachicola.

Se pronostica que Colin toque tierra un poco después de las 8 p.m. en la zona norte de la Florida conocida como el Big Bend, cerca de Port Leon.

Se han registrado ráfagas de viento en el Centro de Florida de más de 40mph. En Titusville se registró una ráfaga de 66 mph.

Aguaceros y tormentas continuaran pasando por durante la noche en forma de bandas, algunas tormentas pueden producir ráfagas de vientos y también el desarrollo de tornados.

A medida de que el sistema se mueve sobre el norte de Florida el riesgo de tornados también se traslada hacia el norte, cerca de su centro. Todavía se esperan algunas tormentas durante la madrugada por el área central de Florida.

Actualización 5p.m

Coli estáubicado a  70 millas al sur-suroeste de Apalachicola y 190 millas al oeste noroeste de Tampa. Vientos máximos sostenidos de 50 mph y continua moviéndose al nor-noreste a 23 millas por horas. Su velocidad continuará aumentando.

El Centro de Florida continuará trayendo fuertes lluvias y tormentas durante la noche de lunes. Algunas tormentas pueden tornarse severas con la posibilidad de algunos tornados desarrollándose.

Las lineas de tormentas se moverán rápido hacia el norte, a más de 50mph.

Un aviso de tormenta tropical está vigente para la costa occidental de la Florida, desde Englewood hasta Indian Pass, esto incluye la Bahía de Tampa. Esto significa que el estado de Florida comenzará a tener impactos por la tormenta dentro de 24 horas.

Para la zona metro de Orlando y ciudades adyacentes todavía los impactos serán los mismos que anticipaban nuestro equipo de meteorólogos. Lluvias torrenciales que pasaran en rondas por las bandas de la tormenta. Acumulados que entre las 2 y 4 pulgadas, algunas zonas con hasta 6 pulgadas. Por la dirección en la que viene la tormenta, el Centro de Florida está bajo el mayor riesgo de desarrollo de tornados.

Los residentes de Centro de la Florida tienen que estar preparados ante las inundaciones que se pronostican, rafagas de viento fuertes son probables. También existe el riesgo de tornado. Cotn

Continuaremos trayendoles más información en lo que ocurran más cambios o tengamos nuevos pronósticos.

Tenemos toda la información sobre el desarrollo de esta tormenta en nuestra pagina de internet, con una section dedicada a las condiciones de el tiempo en español. Nuestro "app" del tiempo está disponible para dispositivos móviles, descárguelo y reciba todos los avisos y vigilancias que sean emitidos.

Tom Terry
Brian Shields
George Wladenberger
Rusty McCraine
Marina Jurica
Irene Sans

Cox Media Group