Tropical Depression 19 dumps rain across South Florida and takes aim at Panhandle, Gulf Coast states
Tropical Depression 19 dumped rain across southern Florida as it skirted the coasts along the lower peninsula on Saturday, and it’s expected to become a tropical storm once it moves into the Gulf of Mexico.
At 11 a.m., TD 19 was about 40 miles southeast of Naples, heading west at 9 mph with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center’s latest advisory. The system developed off the southeast coast of Florida on Friday evening.
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for areas from Ochlockonee River to the Okaloosa-Walton County line in the Panhandle. The areas under watch can expect some tropical storm conditions on Saturday and Sunday.
More watches and warnings could be issued for the northern Gulf Coast on Saturday, as TD 19 is forecast to strengthen into a tropical storm and then into a hurricane by late Monday as it heads toward Louisiana and Mississippi.
