Tropical depression to bring rain to Florida Straits

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Sunday, August 28, 2016
Eye on the Tropics
Meteorologist David Tillman has the latest update about three different tropical systems churning in the Atlantic.

MIAMI, FL -- Forecasters say another tropical depression has formed in the Florida Straits and is expected to produce some rain over the southern half of the Florida peninsula and the Florida Keys.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Sunday that the depression is located 60 miles (100 kph) south of Key West and is moving west at about 9 mph. Maximum sustained winds were clocking at 35 mph (55 kph), with higher gusts.

The depression is expected to produce 1 to 4 inches of rain through Wednesday.

It is expected to head into the Gulf of Mexico overnight.

Forecasters said earlier in the day that a tropical depression has formed in the Atlantic west of Bermuda, bringing the possibility of heavy rain to the coast of North Carolina early this week.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says the depression is located about 355 mph (570 kph) southeast of Cape Hatteras and is moving west at 9 mph. Maximum sustained winds were clocking at 35 mph (55 kph), with higher gusts.

The storm's center is expected to pass offshore of the Outer Banks of North Carolina on Tuesday.

Separately, Hurricane Gaston is gathering strength as it moves northwestward in the Atlantic, but forecasters say it poses no threat to land. The center says Gaston reformed as a hurricane Saturday night.

On Sunday, Gaston was clocking maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph) winds. The storm was located about 580 miles (935 kilometers) east of Bermuda. Gaston was moving northwest at about 5 mph (7 kph).

Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 25 miles (35 kilometers) from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 kilometers).

Forecasters say Gaston could strengthen in the next day but poses no threat to land.

Click here for the full forecast.

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