right now on newschannel 8 newschannel 8 at 5:30. >> for the first time in more than a decade, a hurricane is about to make landfall in florida. and roads are starting to flood throughout the bay area. >> and winds are picking up near the coast whipping fiercely and bending trees with ease. >> and take a live look at the strong waves hitting the coast of panama city! good evening i'm jennifer lee. >> and i'm josh benson. thanks for being with us tonight. >> people in the bay area are really starting to buckle down now. steve jerve joins us now. there's a new warning in the bay area? >> it'll be a potential for a tornado warning with the nasty line of thundershowers coming off hermine. we'll update you on that. a category 1 rricane with 75

making landfall somewhere around midnight in the panhandle and shoot off to the northeast. we're on a tropical storm warning coastal areas through sarasota county. there you'll see the tropical storm warnings in place. now, here's where we're talking about. the tornado warning in effect for southwestern hernando county and also central pasco county. it's in effect until 6:00. so the next half hour. there's the line we're talking about. just a few light strikes in there. but it's a lot of wind sheer within here. itself. that's dangerous part of the storm. over to vipir, you can see the path and where that effected area is. this may not be the last tornado warning. we had two others earlier today. that was another line that came through with this. g ar velocity relative to the radar site. you can see the sheer, little less than 60 mile-per-hour

it's moving rapidly north at 45 miles per hour. we'll zoom in and see some cities on that if we could to see what's in the path of this storm. right along 41 there. you can see east of 41 and west of i-75. this is west of land of lakes and the aaron area. also obviously land of lakes region. that's the highest amount of sheer. west of land of lakes on 41 you can see on the right side of and right along and moving to the north. it's going to move very, very quickly. this may be a tornado. e this this afternoon. and people on the ground have reported real violent weather for a short amount of time, maybe a couple minutes and then it moves on. not surprising because it's so strong. that's the warning area in the southern part of hernando account. you can see the sheer tracks as we move farther south. that indicates there's been a lot of wind sheer within the atmosphere. so it's basically like frontprints following along as the potential tornado tracks further to the north. just in the last scan, you can

west of highway 41 and the central part of pasco county, west of land love lakes, moving rapidly north at 45 miles per hour according to national weather service. so this is a tornado warning meaning a tornado is indicated on radar. and we've been watching the high sheer values with that strong line of thunderstorms you see offshore. you can see on max radar the thunderstorms that are coming offshore right now. but that's ahead of the line itself. it's indicative of intense atmosphere filled with a lot of wind sheer. and that's very classic in these bands that spiral off the center of the hurricane back to our west. you can see another one setting to the west of that. but this is all in advance of a very fast-moving atmosphere that provides a lot of wind sheer in our atmosphere. we'll jump back to vipir here. you can see that area and the cities in the path of the storm because it's moving so quickly. all the way up through greenfield it looks like just

section of tornado county. -- through that section. hernando beach probably saw high winds earlier this afternoon with that tornado warning in effect for those folks, too, moving very, very quickly. let's look at that close area and see where it is. looks like it's moving quickly to the north at 45 miles per hour. 5a junction west of the aaron areas i mentioned. northwest of land of lakes. rotation where that tornado warning is in effect until 6:00. that would be for the next half hour or so in through this area. that other line of thunderstorms coming offshore could produce more sheer in the atmosphere, more severe weather, severe weather wind gusts that could be violent for the region. we have seen rotation in the atmosphere. that's what we're seeing south

but look how fast it's moving. the sheer is definitely there. it changes from scan to scan on the radar. but perhaps a little less intense than it was, say, 5, 10 minutes ago. doesn't mean that it's gone. it just means that it's a very intense area and could be briefly very, very violent with the strong winds. again, we see this is all attached to the eastern side of the tropical storm or the hurricane. now a category 1 hurricane that will make landfall in the florida panhandle. the first hurricane landfall in 11 years as it moves to the northeast at a very quick rate. really picked up a forward speed because it picked up the upper level trough. and that just -- the fast steering currents tend to steer it along at a quick rate. we see these thunderstorms through the western part of citrus county. i call them thunderstorms. but mostly it's wind and wind gusts. this is offshore of new port richey to the west of pinellas county.

together with the briefly violent weather along coastal areas. so pinellas county coastline from palm coast, tarpon springs to st. pete beach. this is about to come onshore. few lightning strikes. but mostly about the wind and the tornado potential. inland areas. you may see a few scattered showers, thunderstorms. but mostly it's this line off manatee and sarasota county coastline headed your way right now moving north at about 45 miles per hour. very, very intense. going to jump over to vipir here. path of that system. storm relative velocity is the way to do that. watch the winds coming to and away from the radar site. when you see the bright green and red, very close to one another. the signature isn't isoclor as 5, 10 minute -- the signature isn't as close as it was 5, 10 minutes ago. it'll continue to race to the north at about 45 miles per hour. beaches, it's clear of you. but just offshore you see that

thunderstorms and high wind and very, heavy, squally rain showers. that's how you describe it. it's a strong squall. they're just violent winds going to and metro from east to west, north -- to and fro from east to west. very quickly, the satellite imagery. that shows where the center of rotation is. we talk about getting a tropical storm, a hurricane. it's almost fictional to some pe but this moves this can actually happen. and relatively, this is a weak category 1 hurricane at 75 mile- per-hour winds. so the effects are from a hurricane but they're from a strong wind hurricane at 75 miles per hour. you can imagine what a major hurricane of 100 plus miles per hour. but there it is to the west coast of the tampa bay area. center of rotation. we've been talking about what

past week or so are thunderstorms around the center. clearly that's what it's doing. this is beautiful how it tells the story. you can see how it continues to move all those showers onshore and that violent line of showers and thunderstorms we were at all times that is producing the -- that we were talking about that is producing that winds. it's that red line offshore we'll have to watch as well. this is developing ahead of that. we talked t you can see the cuplets, rotation. that's still there on the reflectivity. this al go rhythm will -- algorythm will determine that height. this is a tropical system. we talk about high winds and storm surge. all are dangerous. for the bay area, storm sungar is probably the number one thing.

hurricane with 75 mile-per-hour winds just over tropical storm status is it can produce a lot of wind sheer and it can produce tornadoes. that's exactly what it's done this afternoon according to what the radar has been reporting. we've had reports of violent weather. tornadoes or strong winds -- we'll find out if there's any damage. some occurring today has been in rural areas. but dangerous nonetheless. and as that line of storms comes onshore, we'll know we'll see some probably strong wind gusts as it moves very quickly to the north at 45 miles per hour. outer range will continue to show the thunderstorms further south. at the moment, we don't see other areas highlighted for wind sheer. but we know it's out there today. thunderstorms are moving at a rapid rate. off clearwater comes this rain band moving from the west to the east. so looks like the intensity has come down a little bit. is that right, guys?

-- would you say that on the sheer? the reason we're staying on for the moment is to show you this line coming onshore. if you look at the sheer product, these highlighted areas -- can you clear those? okay. that's just showing the track of where the higher amounts of sheer values, the type of atmospheric effect that can produce tornadoes is following a trail or footsteps of where that's those brighter colors of sheer producing that tornado warning. this is moving rapidly north at 45 miles per hour from north to south. coming onshore in pinellas county. and i'll toss it back to the news folks because the intensity has come down a little bit. but that tornado warning is still in effect until 6:00 for about 20 more minutes for this area. and although the rotation isn't as distinct as it was, say, 5, 10 minutes ago, 10, 15 minutes

storm and will be. so if you're in the southern part of hernando county, moving up towards brooksville, notice you'll get very strong winds as it moves over your area. this tornado warning is in effect until 6:00 p.m. well th we've been showing you on radar, this is a powerful line of showers and a few thunderstorms. but mostly about the wind. you can see the broader picture around the eastern side of that category 1 hurne so we'll toss it back to our news anchors now and let you continue. and maybe we'll get reports there from the ground and see how it's going out there. but this is -- >> yeah, steve, we appreciate it. and if you need to get back to us for any reason, let us know. otherwise, we'll check back with you in about 15 minutes or so. >> sounds good. >> all right. stay close. we have much more to come on hurricane hermine. we'll be right back in a few

talk about bad timing. a hudson hospital left in fact dark, no power whatsoever after a lightning strike. the generator was fried. supposed to go while the hospital closes until monday? mel, this is pretty much the worst possible time for something like this to happen. >> reporter: it is, josh. good evening from a rainy and messy hudson tonight. it's bad when you have a lightning strike. but during a hurricane at a hospital? well, that's a nightmare. it was without a doubt the

hermine. a lightning strike knocked out the power completely leaving more than 200 patients in the dark at bayonette point regional medical center. >> it creates a completely dark, powerless environment in the hospital. >> reporter: it became a race against the clock to get patients out safely. our cameras were rolling as dozens of ambulances rushed in to help from as far away as orlando. the hospital c.e.o. talked about the desperation of that cellphones and flashlights to begin the process of evacuating patients. >> reporter: the good news here, all patients were transported safely and now receiving treatment at other bay area hospitals. the bad news, bayonette point won't be open until monday. urgent health senters are helping out. >> bumps, bruises, cuts, any minor thing, you're prepared for any patients over the

>> yeah, e absolutely. we look forward to helping out the community and being a useful resource. we are urgent care and pride ourselves on that. >> reporter: it's less than 5 minutes away from the hospital in hudson and one of the places bayonete point is referring patients to with emergency injuries. >> reporter: if you emergency, life threatening, you can still come here. but you'll be transported somewhere else. if you call 911, they will still transport you to another hospital. but there's no one inside right now because it is closed tonight. josh? >> we know it's illegal for a hospital to operate without an emergency generator. this has to be a big fix. you think they'll be finished by monday? >> reporter: that's what it's sounding like. they want it up and running as quickly as possible.

couldn't come at a worst time. a holiday weekend during a hurricane eight regional hospital where so many people depend on services. again, like i said, they are still sending out ambulances at this location. you just can't get treated here. josh? >> this storm is still in its infancy. so a lot of trouble there. melanie in hudson. thank you so much, mel. we're just getting word that a tornado warning in pasco and hernando counties has been canceled. but we'll have much more coming

we're watching that line we were talking about coming onshore right now. the beauty of having these cameras you can actually record that and see what it's looking like. you see a south wind at times gusting to 25 miles per hour with the winds coming to the south as we were tracking that tornado. by the way, that warning is now canceled for pasco and hernando county. almost 2 inches of rain today. but over the last 10 minutes or so, you can see how bouncing camera and a bit more sea spray. the atmosphere looking more fog. the rain is coming down. that line is coming ashore right now. 81 degrees. the rainfall not as much. but certainly plenty of clouds around the area. so obviously the stronger winds are on the beaches themselves. also down in venice, 84 degrees. that's just offshore of venice. and the effects there from the

hurricane hermine, 75 mile-per- hour winds moving to the north/northeast at 14 miles per hour. the advancement of the forward speed because of this upper level trough coming over and moving this thing to a quick fashion. big bend area, tropical storm warnings all the way down to sarasota county. effects of tides definitely want to watch the high tide at 3:00 in the morning and 3:00 p.m. for tomorrow as the winds come more southwesterly. ashore now. some high winds and potential for tornadoes along the line and in the line itself. we'll take a look at vipir right now. that indicates the strong winds probably gusting to tropical storm force strength. they're moving northeast at this point. so if it's coming ashore on the beach, the strongest areas of wind. so initially when this line moves through pinellas county which it's doing now, that

version of the northern spots, there you'll see it offshore. pretty good line. that's moving just off of the area. the stronger thunderstorms are further south, though. moving north at 45 miles per hour. this area of storms. within the line itself, some stronger wind gusts. just palm harbor in st. pete beach and then manatee county. west of manatee, bradenton and sarasota county, too. the tropical storm warning in place. part of the reason why they have these warnings in place are the strong wind gusts you can get inside the line. category 1 hurricane in the gulf of mexico. onshore flow carrying these rain bands that spiral off the center. there's one, two, perhaps a third developing. these can be very violent. some dry air coming in to the western side. that can tend to take a little bit of energy, moisture out of the storm. but there's energy wrapped up already in this thing. that dry air will be pulled around into these rain bands.

probably around midnight. about 100 miles offshore. there's the water vapor imagery. there's the drier air. all this moisture on the eastern side, probably have to drag off this area. that can weaken a system. but it's plenty strong now. last 24 hours, it's really gotten its act together. lines of equal pressure. these spiral bands. and that just indicates this onshore flow. winds coming from the southwest. that's about high tides now the next 24 hours. and that will continue to be a concern throughout the day for tomorrow. at 9:00 p.m., 79 degrees. 85 degrees at 4:00 p.m. for us tomorrow. still an on and off rainy day, especially for northern and coastal areas. wind gust we're seeing at times 35 miles per hour in sarasota. same number in clearwater. less amounts inland. but it's the coastal areas

especially with the line coming ashore now. we'll see overnight rains possible and possible bands come ago shore. as this moves ashore, it'll lose intensity and strength. but we'll still see southwesterly wind throughout the day on the backside of the storm. that causes tide concerns, guys, and adds to the areas of flooding. can tend to keep the water in so even if the sky is clear, we need to have our eyes on the tides at least another day or two. >> absolutely. >> thank, steve. we have the team of the week coming up at 8:00. meanwhile, more storm coverage coming your way. newschannel 8 at 6:00 is next. >> steve is keith is here on what we're working on. >> the coast is feeling the impact of hurricane hermine. >> this is at cedar key with

really picking up. >> plus storm surge has been causing flooding all along the pinellas county coastline. how it's effecting clearwater beach when we come back. >> some call it an assessment. some call it a tax. whatever it is, city council will decide whether or not some people in tampa will pay for it tonight. storm team 8 weather is sponsored by morgan & morgan. it's the final days of the ford freedom sales event... and the deals just got better. ? i'm free to do what i want and have a good time. ? just announced! 0% financing plus $500 labor day cash across the entire 2016 ford lineup. and specially tagged vehicles get an extra $1000 smart bonus cash. freedom from interest... and freedom to choose with ford. america's best-selling brand. ? i'm free, baby!?

plus specially tagged vehicles get another $1000 smart bonus cash. havertys furniture helps your home look perfect even when life isn't. pretty! hey. umm... sign here? sure, you got a pen? i do! thanks sweetie. le is on now at havertys.

hermine's heavy winds and powerful rain is battering the bay. this storm has intensified to a hurricane as it batters the coast. more at 6:00. thank you for joining us tonight. hermine is now a hurricane. and here is a live look at cedar key where conditions are starting to worsen.

look at indian shores. we are still seeing big waves at bay area beaches. >> and tampa has managed to dodge the brunt of this storm. >> and just look at how powe this was in lido key as the storm swept by sarasota county. but we begin with chief meteorologist steve jerve. and steve, hermine is now historic. the first hurricane to landfall in florida in more than a decade. >> it will when it makes landfall later tonight, around midnight or so in the panhandle. it's about 100 miles offshore and moving northeast at about 14 miles per hour. according to hurricane center, some very strong winds through pinellas county right now racing through the area. so watch for high wind gusts. you can see southwest at 40 miles per hour. south winds at 38 miles per hour. we've been tracking this on vipir and other systems. you can see the trees on the