Storm brings tornado to Brevard; now Tropical Storm Julia

A passing tropical wave battered the Space Coast on Tuesday with a confirmed tornado west of Barefoot Bay, along with bursts of torrential downpours and windy weather reminiscent of Brevard’s recent brushes with stronger, named storms.

Derrick Weitlich, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Melbourne, said a tornado was confirmed by radar at 1:52 p.m. in a rural area between Barefoot Bay and Interstate 95. The tornado was also confirmed by two spotters.

No injuries were reported as a result of the tornado, but wet highways and roads contributed to numerous traffic incidents across the county, officials said.

More than 3.3 inches of rain had fallen in Melbourne by 5 p.m. Tuesday, with more likely on the way. There appears to be more in store as the tropical low drifts slowly to the north with the weather forecasting a 60 percent chance of rain for Wednesday and Thursday.

The rain and storms were part of a wave that was upgraded by the National Hurricane Center late Tuesday and named Tropical Storm Julia.

The storm’s formation was unusual in that the center of circulation appeared to be over land when it formed, near St. Augustine. As of 11 p.m., the storm had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. It was moving north-northwest at 9 mph.

NWS confirms EF-0 tornado in Brevard on Tuesday

Julia’s projected path takes it in a slow north-northwest direction over the next 48 hours, with the system expected to weaken and eventually dissipate over south Georgia.

The rainfall brought on by the system only added to Melbourne's above-average rainfall totals so far this year. As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, Melbourne has received of 44.72 inches of rain, well over the average value for this time of year of 37.07 inches.

“We have a low risk of some minor flooding,’’ said Matt Volkmer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Melbourne. “We’ll just have to keep an eye on that."