PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – A hurricane watch and a tropical storm watch have been issued for a portion of the northwest Gulf Coast of Florida as the region anticipates the landfall of a tropical system.
Tropical Depression No. 9, which is churning in the Gulf of Mexico, is forecast to become a tropical storm by Wednesday and make a turn toward the northeast.
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The projected path from the National Hurricane Center shows the system making a landfall Thursday along the northwest Gulf Coast of Florida. There is a chance that the system could reach hurricane strength before landfall.
National Hurricane Center forecasters said Tuesday night that storm surge along parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast could range from 1 to 2 feet or 2 to 4 feet depending upon location and timing.
Forecasters also said storm total rainfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches are possible over much of the Florida peninsula through Friday morning.
The system will not impact directly Broward and Miami-Dade counties or the Keys, but it will continue to keep South Florida connected to a tropical feed of moisture.
Thus, the potential for rounds of heavy rain could last through Thursday. Parts of South Florida, including Broward and Miami-Dade counties remain under a flood watch through Wednesday morning.