ORLANDO, Fla. – A tropical depression that formed in the Florida Straits is moving into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, and the U.S. National Hurricane Center says it could soon become a tropical storm before turning back toward Florida.
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As of 11 p.m. Monday, Tropical Depression 9 was moving west at 7 mph, with sustained winds of 35 mph, and it sits about 240 miles west of Key West. It is expected to become a Tropical Storm on Tuesday.
The forecast cone continues to keep Central Florida in its sights, suggesting the system could possibly be in the Orlando area by Thursday afternoon as a tropical storm. If it becomes a tropical storm, it would be named Hermine or Ian, depending on how quickly another storm system develops in the Atlantic.
"Flood-prone areas should monitor this system, as heavy rain will increase the flooding threat by the end of the week," News 6 meteorologist Candace Campos said. "Other threats with this storm include isolated tornadoes and gusty winds."
TRACKING THE TROPICS: Candace Campos has the latest update on Tropical Depression #9.
Posted by News 6 WKMG / ClickOrlando on Monday, August 29, 2016
"There's a higher risk of rain and storms as the week continues," Campos said.
Elsewhere in the tropics
Meanwhile, another tropical depression that formed west of Bermuda is moving toward the coast of North Carolina. That depression is expected to become a tropical storm overnight and threatens to bring wind and rain to eastern North Carolina.
Farther east, Hurricane Gaston has weakened a little as it drifts northward in the middle of the Atlantic.
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