Storm warning, watches issued for parts of Florida ahead of Tropical Depression Four
MIAMI - A tropical storm warning and watches have been issued for parts of Florida as Tropical Depression Four makes its way toward the state.
According to the National Hurricane Center, the system was about 260 miles southeast of Key West as of Friday night. It was moving to the west-northwest at 17 mph with sustained winds of 30 mph. The NHC also stated that TD4 may evolve into a tropical storm over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico by late Saturday. If that is the case, it will become Tropical Storm Debby.
The system is forecast to slow down and turn to the northwest on Friday night or Saturday. It will then take a turn to the north on Sunday. On the forecast track, the disturbance is expected to move over Cuba on Friday, cross the Straits of Florida on Saturday, and then move near or over the west coast of Florida Saturday night through Sunday night.
Overnight, expect increasing bands of heavy and gusty showers, which could bring on-off rain heavy at times and possible flooding on Saturday with wind gusts averaging over 25 to 35 mph. By Sunday, morning bands of rain could come before improving and not-so breezy conditions.
A tropical storm warning has been issued for the state's southwest coast from East Cape Sable to Boca Grande and the Dry Tortugas.
Tropical storm watches were issued for:
- The Florida Keys south of the Card Sound Bridge
- The southern coast of the Florida peninsula east of East Cape Sable to Card Sound Bridge
- The west coast of the Florida peninsula north of Boca Grande to the mouth of the Suwanee River
A storm surge watch is also in effect for Bonita Beach northward to the mouth of the Suwanee River, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor.
According to the NHC, "tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area late Saturday and Saturday night. Tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area in the Florida Keys and the southern Florida peninsula by Saturday or Saturday night."
Portions of the state and near the southeast coast could see 4 to 8 inches of rain, with some get up to 12 inches, through Wednesday.
