‘Sloppy’ Tropical Storm Colin Bears Down on Florida

The main reason Bonnie and Colin were able to form is because the waters in the Caribbean Sea/Gulf of Mexico region and along the Atlantic coast have been so warm. The heat from the ocean helps fuel the convection that drives tropical cyclones (the generic term for tropical storms, hurricanes and typhoons)...

Perhaps the clearest link between warming and hurricanes is the storm surge that can inundate coastlines as storms come ashore. Storm surge is one of the main impacts expected with Colin, with anywhere from 1 to 3 feet expected to wash over low-lying areas from Indian Pass to Florida Bay...

Colin’s other major impact will be rain, which could lead to flash flooding