Tropical Storm Lee nearly stationary off Louisiana coast, will drifts north-northeast this weekend.

Emergency Manager Tropical Storm Lee Briefing Sept. 2, 2011---Page 1
In this update:
 Tropical Storm Lee nearly stationary off Louisiana coast, will drifts north-northeast this weekend.
Newly named tropical storm Lee continues to wobble south of the Louisiana coast as a nearly stationary tropical system. As of late Friday morning the center of the storm was located approximately 200 miles southwest of New Orleans. Maximum sustained winds are currently 40 mph continue with higher gusts. As you can see below, the system is expected to remain offshore of Louisiana until very early Monday morning.
Emergency Manager Tropical Storm Lee Briefing Sept. 2, 2011---Page 2
The majority of the guidance has not changed much in the past 24 hours but has come in better agreement in moving T.S. Lee slowly northeast towards southeast Louisiana through Labor Day and into southern or central Alabama by Wednesday. The system may approach hurricane strength just prior to landfall given the very warm water in that portion of the gulf.
***Please note that if this storm expands more than is currently expected, or turns earlier or faster to a northeast heading, impacts would increase late this weekend into more of our region.***
Emergency Manager Tropical Storm Lee Briefing Sept. 2, 2011---Page 3
A large area of showers and thunderstorms remains along the eastern portion of the storm with a broken bands of showers extending off the coast of the Florida panhandle Friday afternoon. At this time it appears much of the shower activity associated with this slow moving system will remain along the Florida Panhandle coast westward across southern Louisiana into Saturday. However as the storm strengthens and begins to drift more northeastward early next week, a larger radius of gusty winds and rainfall would overspread nearly all the Florida Panhandle, far southwest Georgia and all of southeast Alabama.
Primary impacts continue to focus on high surf and rip currents along the Florida beaches from Franklin county westward beginning today, as well as a larger area of 2-4” rainfall from Sunday through Tuesday. Given the slow movement of the storm and the possibility of stationary bands of rain becoming established, higher rain totals may occur for localized areas. A low tornado threat may also become apparent later this weekend if the storm does strengthen and moves closer to our region.
Radar data from 1030am EDT Friday
48 hr rainfall totals from Sunday to Tuesday afternoon
Emergency Manager Tropical Storm Lee Briefing Sept. 2, 2011---Page 4
Key Points for this event:
 Impacts, if any, should be confined along the Panhandle coast and western inland counties into southeast Alabama through Saturday, where showers and thunderstorms could increase as the system grows.
 Beach goers in the Florida Panhandle through the holiday weekend will see high surf and a high rip current risk.
 Coastal flooding is expected to remain minimal at this time across our part coastal areas from Franklin county westward, although 1-1.5 ft of above normal tides can be expected.
 Minimal impacts over Georgia and Florida Bend counties are expected at this time through Saturday, although clouds and showers may increase.
 Impacts are forecast to become more apparent later in the weekend into early next week.
 While beneficial rains will be welcome with this slow moving impulse, hazardous conditions from an isolated tornado and localized flooding cannot be ruled out.
 All should keep a close eye on this impulse and monitor the latest guidance from the NHC.
The National Weather Service in Tallahassee will continue to monitor this system closely. If you have any questions, please give our office a call at 850-942-883,3 or on our toll free line at 800-598-4562, and ask to speak to a meteorologist. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also reach us on our Southern Linc phone at 1*77*184.