Fred heads toward Florida Straits where it is expected to strengthen

Tracking the Tropics: Fred expected to gain strength over Florida Straits

Tropical Depression Fred continue its movement along the northern coast of Cuba on Thursday and was expected to intensify as it moved over the warm waters of the Florida Straits.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Fred was still a tropical depression late Thursday evening with maximum sustained winds at 35 mph. The storm's movement had slowed even further up from earlier reports as it was heading toward the west-northwest near 9 mph. It is expected to re-strengthen as it moves toward the Florida Straits, forecasters said.

"Fred is clinging to life, but showing signs of a heartbeat with new thunderstorms forming on its southern and eastern periphery," FOX 35 Storm Team Meteorologist Brooks Garner said. "It is forecast to become a tropical storm before approaching Florida."

Fred was about 450 miles east-southeast of Key West just before 11 p.m.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecasts that it will become a tropical storm again by Friday evening while tracking towards the Florida Keys. The FOX 35 Storm team is watching Fred's future intensity.

On the forecast track, Fred is expected to move just north of eastern Cuba on Friday. By Saturday, the storm is expected to be near the Florida Keys and southern Florida Saturday. A turn toward the northwest is expected Friday nightor Saturday.

TRACK THE TROPICS: Visit the FOX 35 Storm Team Hurricane Center for the latest tropical weather outlook and more

Our mainstream models are still in disagreement on the further track of Fred, though. The GFS model has it moving parallel with the west coast of the Florida peninsula. Meanwhile, the European model has it moving over the peninsula.

With that said, Fred has shifted away from the Eastern Florida Peninsula but the western portion of Florida is still in NHC's cone of uncertainty.

Impacts to Central Florida could include some heavy tropical downpours and breezy, gusty winds. Heavy tropical downpours appear possible with brief spin-ups and winds in the 15 to 25 mph range. There could potentially be some flooding in lower-lying areas. As of now, East Central Florida can expect pockets of heavy rain: 3 to 5 inches on the west side of the peninsula and 1 to 3 inches on the east side.