Tropical Storm Bonnie Loses Punch But Heavy Rains Still Coming

July 23, 2010

FT. LAUDERDALE (SUN-SENTINEL) - Tropical Storm Bonnie lost organization overnight and could be downgraded later today to an open trough, or what amounts to a blob of low pressure, the National Hurricane Center said.

For now, however, forecasters said they are assuming Bonnie will remain a storm until it reaches the Gulf of Mexico, where it could rejuvenate on extremely warm water.

Because the system sped up overnight, South Florida now can expect the heaviest rains between about 10 a.m. and early afternoon on Friday, said meteorologist Robert Molleda of the National Weather Service in Miami.

"For several hours it's going to be pretty nasty," he said.

The storm was expected to produce 2 to 3 inches of rain with some areas seeing up to 5 inches. It also should generate gusty winds up to about 40 mph, he said.

By late afternoon the rains should start to taper, but they likely will continue into the evening. Saturday also should see some rain from the back end of the system, Molleda said.

As of 8 a.m. on Friday, Bonnie was about 75 miles southeast of Marathon, galloping northwest at 19 mph with sustained winds of 40 mph.

Its tropical force winds extend about 85 miles from its center, mainly on the north and east side of the storm. The hurricane center will issue its next forecast at 11 a.m.