For the latest updates on Emily, visit this new story: Tropical Storm Emily weakens after landfall
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The tropical cyclone off Tampa Bay has strengthened; Tropical Storm Emily is the fifth named system of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season.
Tropical Storm Emily is located about 45 miles west southwest of Tampa, according to an 8 a.m. Monday, July 31, update from the National Hurricane Center. Maximum winds are sustained at 45 mph, and it is moving east at 8 mph.
The minimum central pressure is 1006 mb.
Tropical storm warnings are effect for Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota counties until further notice.
Storm tracker: Track Tropical Storm Emily
Showers and thunderstorms circulating about the center of the low-pressure system became better organized into the morning. It's for this reason updates will continue to be issued for Tropical Storm Emily.
Heavy rain and associated flooding will be the main threat with this system. It's possible some areas could pick up between 3-6 inches of rain through Thursday, with some areas seeing even more amounts.
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