Tropical Storm Expected To Form Over Gulf

MIAMI, FL — A tropical storm was expected to form Saturday over the Gulf of Mexico as wind gusts were possible across South Florida.

"We're primarily looking at a Saturday, Saturday night event here," Warning Coordination Meteorologist Robert Molleda with the National Weather Service said Friday night. "By Sunday, we feel with the forecast storm being already in the northeast Gulf pretty far off the west coast of Florida, conditions should begin to slowly improve, however we're still going to have a lot of trailing moisture."

He said the system could bring periods of heavy rainfall and gusty winds on Saturday with the possibility of flooding along the Gulf coast and Florida east coast metropolitan areas.

A tropical storm watch was in effect for the .Ochlockonee River to Okaloosa/Walton County Line early Saturday.

"Interests elsewhere along the northern Gulf Coast should monitor the progress of this system. Tropical storm or hurricane watches could be issued for a portion of that area tonight or on Saturday," the National Hurricane Center said at 5 a.m. Saturday.

The National Hurricane Center warned that the system could produce rainfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 6 inches across portions of the central Gulf Coast through Tuesday with scattered flash flooding.

Swells were expected to spread along the west-central coast of Florida and the Florida Panhandle during the next couple of days.

"These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions," according to the National Hurricane Center.

A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area within the next 48 hours.

The storm was about 35 miles west-southwest of Miami as of 5 a.m. Saturday with sustained winds of 35 mph.

"On the forecast track, the center of the depression is forecast to move across the southern Florida Peninsula this morning, move over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico later today, and then move northwestward over the north-central Gulf of Mexico on Monday," the National Hurricane Center said at 5 a.m. Saturday.