ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Hurricane Delta strengthened from a Category 1 to a major Category 4 hurricane in less than 24 hours from Monday to Tuesday.
It's expected to make its first landfall late Tuesday night or early Wednesday.
Winds Tuesday afternoon increased to 145 mph. The National Hurricane Center has now projected winds of up to 155 mph late Tuesday night or early Wednesday.
Delta will make a second, and final, landfall late Friday night or early Saturday. The storm will weaken some but could still have winds over 100 mph.
Will there be any impacts in the Tampa Bay region?
With the current projected path by the National Hurricane Center, the biggest concern for Tampa Bay will be the threat of large waves for boaters and a high risk for rip currents.
Other weather impacts in Tampa Bay will be minimal. In fact, the latest computer model forecasts have our winds shifting out of the southeast, which will bring slightly lower rain chances through Friday. Scattered-to-isolated storms will still be possible during the afternoon and early evening hours while Delta in making or nearing landfall late Friday.
Weekend rain and storm chances increase as the remnants of Delta move east-northeast across the southeastern United States. This will turn the winds south-southwest for Tampa Bay reinforcing high humidity levels as well.
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