Though weakening in intensity, the first named storm of the Atlantic season still promises rainy and messy conditions along the East Coast.
Tropical Storm Andrea brought rains, heavy winds and some tornadoes to parts of Florida, then moved quickly across south Georgia and cruised through the Carolinas Friday morning, dumping water on many popular vacation getaways, according to CNN. Andrea lost some power after making landfall Thursday in Florida's Big Bend, with winds decreasing to 45 mph.
By mid-morning, 1-2 inches had drenched the D.C. metro region, with the heavy stuff yet to pelt the area throughout the day until about 8 p.m. ET. Flash flood warnings were issued until 10 p.m.
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The storm is expected to cross the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay late Friday afternoon, en route to spot off the central Jersey shore by 2 a.m. Saturday.
Ben Nelson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jacksonville, Fla., said Andrea was "moving at a pretty brisk pace" and could lose its tropical characteristics Friday.
Andrea began the 2013 hurricane season when it formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday. It was about 270 miles west-southwest of Tampa, Fla., and moved north at 6 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The National Weather Service issued flood watches for North and South Carolina, as well as tornado and flash flood watches in several counties. Thousands of power outages were also reported.
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Beyond those states, tropical storm warnings were in effect from Savannah, Ga., to Cape Charles Light in Virginia, the Pamlico and Albemarle sounds and the lower Chesapeake Bay south of New Point Comfort.
A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere inside the warning area within a day and a half.
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