Tropical Storm Emily churned ashore near Tampa Bay on Monday, starting a trek across the peninsula amid drenching rains and fears of scattered street flooding that prompted the governor to declare nearly half of Florida's counties in a state of emergency. The Miami-based center said Emily was expected to weaken to a tropical depression while crossing Florida in the coming hours and then heading out into the Atlantic. At 11 a.m. EDT Monday, Emily was centered about 35 miles (55 kilometers) southwest of Tampa and moving east at 9 mph (15 kph). Rick Scott on Monday to declare a state of emergency for 31 of the state's 67 counties as the rains settled in. A tropical storm warning was in effect from the Anclote River to Bonita Beach on the Gulf Coast as the storm came ashore.

Source: ABC News July 31, 2017 10:48 UTC