Florida hit by tropical storm; new one forms

COCOA BEACH, Fla. — As Tropical Storm Tammy made landfall in Florida yesterday, forecasters turned their attention to another tropical system that could threaten the western side of the state.

"We're watching that one now," said National Weather Service meteorologist Bart Hagemeyer of the new storm off the Yucatan Peninsula.

State meteorologist Ben Nelson said the system could soon strengthen into a depression or tropical storm that would be named Vince. The new system is emerging out of thunderstorms left in the wake of Hurricane Stan, which struck southern Mexico earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Tammy, the 19th named storm of this record-setting hurricane season, came ashore in north Florida after skirting the coast and sending heavy rain and gusty winds toward Georgia and the Carolinas.

Tammy was expected to dump 3 to 5 inches of rain over the area, with maximum amounts of 8 to 10 inches, the National Hurricane Center said.

The rain will not be entirely unwelcome: Parts of the Carolinas have been suffering from drought.

But at Jacksonville Beach, businesses lamented the approach of another tropical storm.

Seven hurricanes have brushed past or hit Florida in the past 14 months, including three this year.

Tourists and business people canceled reservations with the approach of the storm, said Eric Fort, general manager of the Sea Walk Hotel. He estimated business is off 75 percent from this time last year.

Hurricane Katrina struck south Florida as a Category 1 storm on Aug. 25, four days before it devastated Louisiana and Mississippi as a Category 4.