Be prepared: Like Boy Scouts, Florida residents were taking steps to avoid the worst from a major storm headed their direction.
But while the year's fifth named Atlantic storm, Erika, hit Cuba and other large Caribbean islands, it dissipated. And while it might strength before reaching the U.S. late Sunday or early Monday, Erika appeared to be nothing more than a weather system that will bring lots of rain.
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Florida remained under a state of emergency, residents continued to ready for possible flooding and sports teams watched to see if their activities would be disrupted.
Erika's worst, however, appears to be over, forecasters said Saturday.
It was bad; 20 dead and more than 30 missing on the island of Dominica.
But in addition to word on the tropical storm weakening came positives as well. Caribbean islands wrestling with drought found Erika's rain welcome.
Sunday was expected to be the key to Erika's impact on the U.S., especially Florida. Forecasters will have a definitive projection on its course and better advice on how strong it will be.
Most likely, Erika will come ashore near Miami and cut a swath up the center of Florida, touching Tampa and Jacksonville before curling east toward the Atlantic Ocean. In its way are professional sports cities and college towns.
But if, as expected, Erika peters out and brings little more than lots of rain and high winds, sports shouldn't be directly affected. Sept. 3 brings the start of college football, including home games for Florida teams.