Gordon Weakens Over Central Mississippi, Florence Becomes Major Hurricane
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - What was once Tropical Storm Gordon is now a weakening tropical depression that is drenching the northern Gulf Coast region.
At 11 a.m., the center of the system was about 5 miles west of Jackson, Mississippi. It was moving to the northwest at 14 mph with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph.
There are no watches or warnings for this storm.
On the forecast track, the center of Gordon will move across the lower Mississippi Valley today. A turn toward the north-northwest and north is forecast to occur on Friday. Additional weakening is expected as Gordon moves farther inland.
Water levels along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast will gradually subside this morning.
Gordon is expected to produce 4 to 8 inches of rain over the western Florida Panhandle, southwest Alabama, southern and central Mississippi, northeastern Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, southern Iowa, and Illinois, with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches through early Saturday. This rainfall will cause flash flooding across portions of these areas.
A tornado or two is possible today and tonight over Mississippi and western Alabama.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Florence has flourished in the face of southwesterly wind shear and has become the first major hurricane of this year's season.
At 11 a.m., the center of the Category 3 hurricane was about 1,370 east-southeast of Bermuda. It was moving to the northwest at 13 mph with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph.
It is not threatening land at this time and there are no watches or warnings issued for this storm.
Some weakening is possible during the next few days, but Florence is expected to remain a strong hurricane through early next week.
