Tropical Depression 4 live updates: Depression forms in Atlantic, expected to become Tropical Storm Debby
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ORLANDO, Fla. - Tropical Depression Four formed late Friday over Cuba and is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm, which will be named Debby, the National Hurricane Center said.
The tropical system, previously known as Potential Tropical Cyclone Four and Invest 97L, continued to strengthen as it moved over Cuba on its way to the Gulf of Mexico and Florida.
For the latest live updates from the National Hurricane, the FOX 35 Storm Team and emergency management, continue below:
Tropical Depression 4: Live forecast updates
11 p.m. update
Depression forms in Atlantic, expected to strengthen
Tropical Depression Four formed late Friday over Cuba – and is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm, which will be named Debby, the National Hurricane Center said. The tropical system was previously known as Potential Tropical Cyclone Four and Invest 97L. Forecasters say it continued to strengthen as it moved over Cuba on its way to the Gulf of Mexico – and Florida.
The NHC said Tropical Depression Four formed late Friday off Cuba's south coast. It's expected to strengthen further and become Tropical Storm Debby once it enters the Gulf of Mexico late Saturday.
As of 11 p.m., the tropical system was located about 75 miles south of Carribn, Cuba, and 260 miles south-southeast of Key West, Florida. The NHC said it was moving west-northwest at 30 mph.
"On the forecast track, the center of the depression will move across Cuba overnight and on Saturday, and then move generally northward over the eastern Gulf of Mexico Saturday and Sunday, potentially reaching the Florida Gulf coast late Sunday or Monday," the NHC said.
Tropical Depression 4 path, track, forecast cone, satellite
Tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area on Saturday afternoon and Saturday night. By Saturday or Saturday night, tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area in the Florida Keys and the southern Florida peninsula. Tropical storm conditions are also possible in the watch area along the Florida West Coast on Saturday night or Sunday.
Forecasters encourage Florida residents to top off their supplies and continue monitoring the forecast.
Tropical Depression Four: Watches, warnings
Here's a look at the tropical storm warnings that have been issued:
- The Dry Tortugas
- The west coast of the Florida peninsula from East Cape Sable to Boca Grande
Here are the tropical storm watches in effect:
- The Florida Keys south of the Card Sound Bridge
- The southern coast of the Florida peninsula east of East Cape Sable to the Card Sound Bridge
- The west coast of the Florida peninsula north of Boca Grande to the mouth of the Suwannee River
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for:
- Bonita Beach northward to the mouth of the Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor
Tropical Depression Four: Timeline, impacts
Landfall of this system would likely happen early Sunday, with impacts felt in Central Florida throughout the day on Sunday.
MORE | Hurricane preparedness: Supplies, checklist to review ahead of the storm
Those impacts include flooding rain with over 10 inches in some locations, isolated tornadoes, and wind gusts between 45 and 60 mph, which could lead to scattered power outages.
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8 p.m. update
The disturbance was centered about 285 miles southeast of Key West over Cuba, moving west-northwest at approximately 16 mph. Maximum sustained winds are near 30 mph with higher gusts.
The disturbance is forecast to move over Cuba on Friday and into Saturday, cross the Straits of Florida into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on Saturday, and then move near or over the west coast of Florida from Saturday night through Sunday night.
RELATED | Future Tropical Storm Debby: Forecast path, spaghetti models, timeline, watches and warnings
The disturbance is expected to develop into a tropical depression late Friday night or early Saturday while over Cuba or the Straits of Florida, followed by intensification into a tropical storm over the eastern Gulf of Mexico by Saturday night. The formation chance through 48 hours is high at 90 percent, and the formation chance through 7 days is also high at 90%.
5 p.m. update
Potential Tropical Cyclone Four is located about 25 miles west of Camaguey, Cuba, and about 315 miles southeast of Key West.
The disturbance is expected to move over Cuba on Friday night, cross the Florida Straits into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on Saturday as a tropical depression, and move near or over the west coast of Florida on Saturday night into Sunday night as Tropical Storm Debby.
2 p.m. update
Potential Tropical Cyclone Four is located about 30 miles southeast of Cuba and 360 miles southeast of Key West. It has maximum sustained winds of 30 mph and is moving west-northwest at 16 mph.
11 a.m. update
Potential Tropical Cyclone Four is located over Cuba and is about 420 miles southeast of Key West, Florida. It has maximum sustained winds of 30 mph and is moving west-northwest at 16 mph. The system has a minimum central pressure of 1012 mb.
The NHC says the system has a 90% chance of formation over the next seven days, and a 70% chance through the next 48 hours.
Forecasters said the system could produce rainfall totals up to 12 inches across parts of Florida and near the Southeast U.S. coast this weekend through Wednesday morning.
8 a.m. update
Invest 97L is currently producing poorly organized showers and thunderstorms over eastern Cuba, Hispaniola, the southeastern Bahamas, Jamaica, and the adjacent waters of the southwestern Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea. The NHC says the system now has a 90% chance of formation over the next seven days and a 60% chance through the next 48 hours.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is closely monitoring Potential Tropical Cyclone Four, formerly known as Invest 97L, which has a strong chance of becoming a tropical depression and potentially Tropical Storm Debby this weekend near Florida.
