: Beryl forces cancellations, closings
8:15 p.m. Mathews Bridge shut down.
With Tropical Storm Beryl 25 miles off Ponte Vedra, emergency managers continue to monitor and prepare for the storm.
The Mathews Bridge in Jacksonville was shut down about 8 p.m., in part because of the construction activity that was going on there. No other bridges in the city are closed, according to the Emergency Operations Center.
To contact Jacksonville's Emergency Operations Center, call (904) 630-2472. For other updates residents can access jaxready.org, which will be updated regularly.
In Nassau County there have been reports of a few trees and wires down but no bridge closures. The Health Department is ready to make a special needs shelter available at the Callahan fire department but it has not been needed yet. To reach the Emergency Operations Center in Nassau, call (904) 548-4980.
In Baker County, Sheriff Joey Dobson said no shelters have been opened but that the emergency operations team is monitoring the storm's approach. To contact emergency workers, call the Sheriff's Office at (904) 259-2861.
In Clay County, no shelters have been opened and light rain is all that has been reported so far, said John Ward, deputy director of the Clay Division of Emergency Management. He said county residents can expect more wind and rain tonight. To contact emergency management personnel, call (904) 284-7703.
In St. Johns County, as much as 10 inches of rain may fall before the storm leaves, said Emergency Management Director Ray Ashton. He said emergency management workers were monitoring the storm and that the county's Road and Bridge Department was open tonight to deal with road closures.
To reach the Road and Bridge Department, call (904) 209-0246. So far only a handful of trees have been reported down.
To reach the Emergency Operations Center, call (904) 824-5550.
7:20 p.m. Check for power outages.
To check for power outages, contact the appropriate utility at the online sites listed. Information offered on the sites may be presented differently and may require an address to activate.
For JEA:
https://www.jea.com/Outage_Info.aspx
For Florida Power and Light:
For Clay Electric:
http://outagemap.clayelectric.com/
7 p.m. Beryl moving west at 10 mph as leading winds reach land.
Tropical Storm Beryl was 7 miles east southeast of Jacksonville and moving at 10 mph with highest sustained winds at 65 mph at 5 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
There is a chance winds will increase slightly but they are not expected to reach the sustained 74 mph level that would classify Beryl as a hurricane, said meteorologist Phil Peterson. Tropical storm conditions can be expected very soon as bands of showers are reaching the coast now.
Conditions should begin to deteriorate, he said.
The areas that will be impacted have been expanded to inland counties in both Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia.
Beryl is expected to degrade to a tropical depression by Monday night.
6:35 p.m.: Mayor urges everyone to stay inside, no bridges closed yet.
Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown said residents should stay indoors as Tropical Storm Beryl begins to come ashore.
No bridges have been closed yet but that could come at any time and will be ordered by the Florida Department of Transportation and based on wind gusts of 40 mph.
"That is when they will decide," Brown said. He said people should stay off the streets and not go "joyriding."
Residents wanting to report downed tree limbs and other problems can call the city at (904) 630-2489. Those phones will be staffed until midnight tonight.
To report power outages, call JEA at 665-6000. To report downed power lines, call 911.
Brown spoke with Gov. Rick Scott, who told the mayor the state is prepared to provide any needed assistance.
Because of heavy winds, residents are being asked to keep trash cans off the street.
In St. Johns County, the Colbie Caillat and Gavin DeGraw concert at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre has been cancelled. Ticket holders are asked to monitor the Amphitheatre web site for information about any rescheduling.
5:15 p.m. Mayor to give update at 6 p.m.
Mayor Alvin Brown is scheduled to give an updated citizen's advisory on storm preparations at 6 p.m. at the Jacksonville's Emergency Operations Center.
5:06 p.m.: Boogie boarders pulled by rip currents rescued on Talbot Island.
Eight people had to be rescued Saturday from the surf at Talbot Island, according to the National Weather Service.Several children on boogie boards were pulled to sea by rip currents, prompting an attempted rescue by several adults. All became exhausted and had to be rescued by fire and rescue workers.One person was hospitalized.
4:40 p.m.: Beryl arrival expected between 7 p.m. and midnight.
The worst of Beryl is predicted to hit land between Jacksonville and Fernandina Beach sometime between 7 p.m. and midnight, according to the National Weather Service at Jacksonville International Airport.
Predicting an exact time is difficult because there are indications it may slow, said Steve Letro, the meteorologist in charge of the Jacksonville Weather Service station. The severest weather is near the center of the storm, with sustained 65 mph winds, he said. Expect gusts to be higher.
Rainfall of 4-inches to 8-inches expected during the next few days in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia.
3:10 p.m.: Southern St. Johns beaches and pier closed, concert still on.
St. Johns County beaches south of Anastasia State Park and the county pier in St. Augustine Beach have been closed, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office. Beaches north of the St. Augustine Inlet have not been closed.
The Emergency Operations Center has not been activated.
The Colbie Caillat and Gavin DeGraw concert at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre scheduled for 6:30 p.m. has not been cancelled.
2:30 p.m.: Cumberland Island will close to visitation
Cumberland Island National Seashore will close at 4:45 p.m. today in preparation for Tropical Storm Beryl, and will remain closed until further notice, according to a news release from The National Park Service.
“Our primary concern is visitor and employee safety, therefore our determination is to not have anyone camping overnight when the storm reaches landfall,“ superintendent Fred Boyle said in the release.
If you have camping or ferry reservations for Monday or the near future, the release instructs visitors to monitor the situation for information about the park reopening. Call (912) 882-4336, ext. 254, for updates.
2 p.m.: National Hurricane Center: Beryl strengthens to tropical storm
National Hurricane Center advises Beryl gains strength again, with sustained winds at 65 mph. The storm is located 110 miles to the east of Jacksonville and moving west at 10 mph. Tropical storm conditions are expected to reach the coast this afternoon; landfall is expected later this evening. Hurricane-force wind gusts are possible.
1:45 p.m. Clay County official says power outages are the county's biggest concern
Clay County's emergency managment director John Ward said extended power outages are his department's biggest concern. They are prepared to assist individuals who have special needs and are dependent on electricity, he said.
Ward said his team is monitoring the storm, and is expecting be at a higher level of alert between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. Monday.
The county has not opened any emergency shelters, he said.
To report power outages or damage to electrical lines in Clay County, call (888) 434-9844 to contact Clay Electric, which Ward said handles about 90 percent of the area's service.
1:10 p.m. Sheriff warns residents to drive with caution, avoid standing water
At an afternoon news conference with Mayor Alvin Brown, Sheriff John Rutherford urged residents to avoid standing water as flooding increases. Avoid walking or driving through standing water, as judging the depth is difficult, he said.
The sheriff also said that drivers in high-profile vehicles such as semi-trucks and vans should take extra caution when crossing bridges.
There are no plans at this time to shut down public transportation, and bridges remain open. They will be closed if wind gusts reach 40 miles per hour, and officers will be on hand to re-route traffic, the mayor said.
1:02 p.m., First Coast News meteorologist Tim Deegan breaks down rain, wind
Meteorologist Tim Deegan said the coastal counties of Nassau, Duval and St. Johns in Florida and Camden and Glynn in Georgia should expect winds over 55 mph and gusts over 60 mph from 6 p.m. Sunday to noon on Monday.
As far as rain totals, Deegan said Baker and Duval, and counties north of those, could get 5 to 10 inches of rain from 1 p.m. Sunday to sunset Tuesday. Counties south of Baker and Duval can expect 3 to 6 inches during that time period.
He also warned of flooding, especially during high tides. The next high tides are 4 a.m. and 4:40 p.m. Monday and at 5 a.m. Tuesdays
12:50 p.m., Nassau County official says they're preparing for 'normal severe thunderstorm'
Danny Hinson, Nassau County's emergency management director, said his department is preparing for Beryl like it would for a "normal severe thunderstorm, tropical or not."
He said the storm's rain bands are the biggest concern for the county, where weather officials have told his crew to expect 3 to 6 inches of rain. Hinson said there were told to expect winds of 40-45 mph, with gusts of 50 mph.
He said they will monitor the wind speeds to determine if they need to shut down the Shave bridge that goes to Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island.
Hinson said the county is not requiring or suggestion any evacuations and there are no general shelters open.
However, he said, the county will have a special needs shelter available for those with medical needs, including needing electricity for medical equipment. For information on that, call (904) 548-5538 or (904) 548-4980.
11:20 a.m.: Update from the Mayor's Office
The Mayor's Office has released an update saying that entry to Hanna and Huguenot parks will be closed at noon, and visitors will be instructed to leave.
Also starting at noon, commercial vessel activity will be restricted at the Jacksonville Port Authority.
In addition to garbage pick-up, recycling and yard waste pick-up is canceled for Monday.
There are no mandatory evacuations, however, the mayor encourages residents in low-lying areas and on boats to seek shelter.
An emergency shelter for those with special needs will open at noon today at the Legends Center at 5130 Soutel Drive near Moncrief Road in Northwest Jacksonville. Residents who are electrical-dependent or who feel it is necessary to seek shelter are encouraged to do so.
Jacksonville International Airport is operating as normal, but the advisory suggests that travelers check with individual airlines for updates.
To report power outages, contact JEA at (904) 665-6000.
11 a.m.: National Hurricane Center: Beryl strengthens
The latest update from the National Hurricane Center shows Beryl gaining strength, with sustained winds at 60 mph. The storm is located 125 miles to the east of Jacksonville and moving west at 10 mph. Tropical storm conditions are expected to reach the coast late this morning or early afternoon. Landfall is expected this evening. Rain totals of 3 to 6 inches are possible.
8:45 a.m.: Mayor asks residents to take caution, prepare for storm
At a morning news conference at the city's Emergency Operations Center, Mayor Alvin Brown encouraged residents to take caution and prepare for subtropical storm Beryl.
"I am encouraging all area residents to stay indoors and off the streets as the storm approaches,” Brown said. "And please do not go into the water today. Stay out of the water ― it's about safety."
Brown also encouraged business owners to close early today to allow employees to get home safely and prepare for the storm.
No mandatory evacuations have been issued, he said.
Residents should prepare, however, for localized flooding, downed trees and downed power lines. "Don't become complacent; take this very seriously," he stressed.
An emergency shelter for those with special needs will open at noon today at the Legends Center at 5130 Soutel Drive near Moncrief Road in Northwest Jacksonville.
He said that he expects garbage pick-up on Monday will be halted.
At this time, there are not plans to close Jacksonville International Airport and there are no bridge closures, he said. Updates on the Jacksonville Port Authority are forthcoming.
Additionally, the mayor said he signed a declaration of emergency, paving the way for federal assistance if needed.
Updates on the city's official Memorial Day activities are expected later this morning.
For more information, residents can call 630-2489 (630-CITY) or visit jaxready.org.
Our earlier story:
Subtropical storm Beryl is churning ever closer to the Southeast U.S. coast, threatening Memorial Day beachgoers with dangerous surf and drenching rains from Northeast Florida to the Carolinas.
The National Hurricane Center said Beryl was centered at 8 a.m. about 165 miles east of Jacksonville. Forecasters said the system has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and is moving west-southwest at 10 mph.
In advance of the storm, the City of Jacksonville and Mayor Alvin Brown have canceled today's Jacksonville Jazz Festival activities with the sole exception of the jazz brunch event at downtown's Omni Hotel.
With dangerous rip currents present, the city also has closed the beaches for swimming.
The city will open a special-needs shelter at the Legends Center at Soutel and Moncrief in Northwest Jacksonville at noon. Anyone electricity- and oxygen-dependent should use this shelter if there are power outages or flooding.
Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the Northeast Florida, stretching from south of St. Augustine northward along the coasts of Georgia and parts of South Carolina. The Miami-based hurricane center says the storm is expected to make landfall Sunday night or early Monday.
Beryl is technically considered a "subtropical storm," its thunderstorms capable of generating dangerous surf and rains of up to 3 to 6 inches.
