Magnificent frigate birds circled mid-day June 5 over Anna Maria Island — black shadows against gray skies, signaling the swirling storm in the Gulf of Mexico.
There was a drizzle Sunday afternoon as islanders, under a tropical storm warning, secured items in their homes and yards.
There were winds off the Gulf and occasional downpours as the system intensified, earning a name — Tropical Storm Colin. Tropical storm wind speeds are 39-73 mph.
By early June 6, TS Colin was drenching island commuters, who noticed the downpour intensify at about 7 a.m.
At that hour, the National Hurricane Center in Miami reported TS Colin was about 315 miles west-southwest of Tampa, spinning north-northeast at about 14 mph with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.
NHC forecast Colin would make landfall at the Big Bend area the afternoon of June 6, after The Islander went to press.
At high tide at 12:45 p.m., the main roads remained passable. Anna Maria Elementary was closed, as well as some restaurants, including the Anna Maria City Pier.
More rain was forecast for the day.
Local officials continued to warn of coastal flooding and tidal surges, as high as 3 feet in the Tampa Bay region.
Colin was expected to move across portions of Florida and southern Georgia early June 7 and reach the southeastern Atlantic coast later June 7, according to the NHC.
For the northern region of Florida and far southern Georgia, the National Weather Service warned of the potential for tornadoes.
The storm was gaining strength early June 6, with winds extending outward up to 185 miles to the east of the center.
Early morning on the island, most roads remained passable. At high tide at 12:45 p.m., the main roads remained passable. Anna Maria Elementary was closed, as well as some restaurants, including the Anna Maria City Pier.
More rain was forecast for the day.
Local officials continued to warn of coastal flooding and tidal surges, as high as 3 feet in the Tampa Bay region.