Possible Tropical Storm Alex
Source: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the Department of Commerce of the United States.
Brian Cohen·
AirlinesNews and Weather
··5 min read

Travel Alert June 2022: Potential Tropical Cyclone Affects Southern Florida, The Bahamas, and Cuba

Could this become Tropical Storm Alex?

If the southern half of Florida, the northern half of the Bahamas, and the western half of Cuba are in your travel plans over the next couple of days, you may want to consider delaying your travel — or, at least, keep yourself updated as to the latest information pertaining to the weather — due to what could become Tropical Storm Alex, whose landfall will likely occur somewhere south of the Tampa Bay Area as soon as during the morning hours of tomorrow, Saturday, June 4, 2022 before moving northeast towards the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean off of the east coast of Florida.

Travel Alert June 2022: Tropical Storm Alex Affects Southern Florida, The Bahamas, and Cuba

Possible Tropical Storm Alex
Source: National Hurricane Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States.

Maximum sustained winds of this tropical storm system — which is currently centered approximately 300 miles southwest of Fort Myers in Florida and is moving northeast at seven miles per hour — are 40 miles per hour, which means that this storm is classified as a potential tropical cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Although what may become Tropical Storm Alex is not expected to become a hurricane — even though that possibility is still not out of the question; and if this tropical storm system becomes a hurricane, it will be minimal and brief…

…but the animated satellite image suggests that this tropical storm system is not yet nearly organized enough to become an official tropical storm prior to landfall on the southwestern coast of Florida. Still, that does not negate the effects that the affected areas are expected to experience, as outlined below.

Official Warnings and Watches

The following official warning was issued by the National Hurricane Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States:

  • A tropical storm warning is currently in effect for:
    • Florida Keys — including the Dry Tortugas
    • Florida Bay
    • West coast of Florida south of the middle of Longboat Key to Card Sound Bridge
    • East coast of Florida south of the line which Volusia County and Brevard County share to Card Sound Bridge
    • Lake Okeechobee
    • Cuban provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, and Mayabeque
    • Northwestern Bahamas
  • A tropical storm warning is currently in effect for the provinces of Matanzas and the Isle of Youth in Cuba

This tropical system will continue to produce torrential rains across western Cuba, the southern half of Florida and the Florida Keys, and northwestern Bahamas through tomorrow, Saturday, June 4, 2022. The following storm total rainfall amounts are expected:

  • Western Cuba — 6 to 10 inches, with an isolated maximum of 14 inches. This rain may cause life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides.
  • Central Florida, South Florida, and the Florida Keys — 4 to 8 inches with maximum of 12 inches across South Florida and in the Keys. This rain may produce considerable flash flooding and urban flooding.
  • Northwestern Bahamas — 3 to 6 inches with a maximum of 10 inches. This rain may produce flash flooding and urban flooding.

Tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area in Cuba through tonight, in Florida tonight and on Saturday, and in the northwestern Bahamas on Saturday. Tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area in Cuba this afternoon and tonight.

The combination of storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide in these areas of Florida:

  • From Marco Island to Card Sound Bridge — between 1-3 feet
  • From Middle of Longboat Key to Marco Island — between 1-2 feet
  • Charlotte Harbor — between 1-2 feet
  • Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas — between 1-2 feet
  • From Card Sound Bridge to North Miami Beach including Biscayne Bay — between 1-2 feet

Storm surge in the extreme northwestern Bahamas could raise water levels by as much as 1-3 feet above normal tide levels.

A few tornadoes are possible over the southern Florida peninsula and the Florida Keys tonight and Saturday.

Flight Waivers, Delays and Cancellations

If you are traveling to, from, or within the southern half of Florida, the northern half of the Bahamas, and the western half of Cuba over the next couple of days, expect delays and cancellations of flights. Keep up to date on the latest information pertaining to this tropical weather system which may adversely affect your travel plans. Better yet, postponing or canceling your trip might be a better option — no matter which mode of travel you plan on taking.

See also

If you have a flight scheduled, your flight may be delayed or canceled — and you may be eligible for a waiver of a fee to change your itinerary.

Here are nine airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of this tropical weather system:

Final Boarding Call

Be sure to contact your airline or transportation provider for the latest information pertaining to your travels — if they are adversely affected — and please: travel safely.

Source: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the Department of Commerce of the United States.

Copyright © 2006-2022 The Gate with Brian Cohen. All Rights Reserved.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.

You have Successfully Subscribed!