Local News Now

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Inside the cozy confines of Denny's restaurant on State Road 44, Robert "Chip" Higgins wasn't impressed by what he saw of Tropical Storm Fay just before 2 this morning as wind gusts of up to 40 mph and precipitation picked up outside.

"I think it's going to rain a bit and that's it," said the 29-year-old server from Edgewater as he waited on a handful of patrons. "I think it's been overblown by the media. Hey, good pun."

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Mayor Sally Mackay was keeping her fingers crossed just before midnight Tuesday that Tropical Storm Fay would not  come back ashore any where near Southeast Volusia.

As of midnight, Fay was centered over Melbourne and headed in  northeast direction at 7 mph slightly over the ocean with a chance of coming ashore right here in the next 24 hours.

Parents and guardians were notified an hour ago through the Volusia school district call system that Volusia County schools will remain closed on Wednesday. That includes all school activities, events and extended day programs are also canceled for Wednesday.

District administrative offices will be closed. Only designated emergency employees are to report for work.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for the early morning hours in Brevard, Polk and Osceola counties in advance of Tropical Storm Fay.

The storm is expected to pass over New Smyrna Beach about 8 p.m. Wednesday and then Daytona Beach, bringing winds of up to 40 mph and 5 to 9 inches of rain. 

---------

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Here is the latest short-term forecast from the National Weather Service in Melbourne for our area as of 11:30 p.m.

COASTAL VOLUSIA-FLAGLER BEACH TO VOLUSIA-
BREVARD COUNTY LINE 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE-FLAGLER BEACH TO VOLUSIA-
BREVARD COUNTY LINE OUT TO 20 NM-INDIAN RIVER-INLAND VOLUSIA-MARTIN-
NORTHERN BREVARD-NORTHERN LAKE-OKEECHOBEE-ORANGE-OSCEOLA-
SEBASTIAN INLET TO JUPITER INLET 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE-
SEBASTIAN INLET TO JUPITER INLET OUT TO 20 NM-SEMINOLE-
SOUTHERN BREVARD-SOUTHERN LAKE-ST. LUCIE-VOLUSIA-

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Alan Hale gassed up his pick-up truck at 6 p.m. at the Marathon gas station on North Dixie Freeway, sucking up the last of the unleaded gasoline. Two hours later, a large tanker drove up and replenished supplies.

"We're hoping he'll get here in time, but traffic is realy had in South Florida and were out of (unleaded) gas and we only have premium and diesel," said attendant Ben Powell, about an hour before the supply truck did arrive.

NSB City Commission meeting rescheduled # A special New Smyrna Beach City Commission meeting will be held 5 p.m. Thursday in the Deberry Room of the Utilities Commission Building, 200 Canal St. The meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, byt moved due to Tropical Storm Fay.

Early voting locales changed # Early voting locations in the New Smyrna Beach Library and elsewhere in Volusia County will be closed on Wednesday. Voters can go to the early voting site at the Volusia County Historic Courthouse, 125 W. New York Ave., DeLand.