Gordon likely to strengthen on way toward Panhandle

Moving at 17 mph, storm could reach Category 1 by landfall

Tropical Storm Gordon will pass through the Gulf of Mexico on its way to the Florida-Alabama border today after it formed Monday morning near the Florida Keys. Forecasters expect the storm to become a Category 1 hurricane by the time it makes landfall along the Gulf Coast this week.

The National Hurricane Center said in its 11 p.m. advisory that Tropical Storm Gordon was located about 115 miles west of Sarasota and its maximum sustained winds were 60 mph, with higher gusts. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from Gordon’s center, the hurricane center reported.

A hurricane warning has been issued from the mouth of the Pearl River in Mississippi to the Alabama-Florida border, the hurricane center said. Warnings for South Florida and the Florida Keys were discontinued as the storm moved northwest Monday.

Forecasters said the storm is expected strengthen during the next 36 to 48 hours, and “Gordon could be near hurricane strength when it makes landfall along the central Gulf Coast.”

Gordon is moving toward the

west-northwest at nearly 17 mph, and forecasters said a west-northwestward to northwestward motion is expected during the next 72 hours.

“Gordon is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 2 to 4 inches over the central and northwestern Bahamas, the Florida Keys, and South Florida through early Tuesday,” forecasters said Monday. “Isolated maximum amounts of 8 inches are possible over the southern Florida peninsula. Gordon is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 4 to 6 inches over southern Alabama, southern Mississippi and Louisiana, with isolated maximum amounts of 8 inches through early Thursday.”

Meteorologists from the National Weather Service in Melbourne said more thunderstorms are expected to roll into Central Florida this afternoon.

On east Central Florida beaches, “rough surf conditions will prevail today due to a brisk onshore flow and an increasing ocean swell. A moderate rip current risk continues today and will be highest through 11 a.m. this morning due to tidal effects,” National Weather Service forecasters said. “Only enter the ocean near a lifeguard, and never swim alone.”

Florida Gov. Rick Scott issued a statement Monday asking Floridians to monitor the progress of the tropical storm.

PHOTOS BY JOE RAEDLE/GETTY IMAGES Walter Augier, left, and Jhon M. fish as Tropical Storm Gordon whips up rain and wind in Miami on Monday. Warnings for South Florida and the Keys were lifted later in the day as the storm moved away.

JOE RAEDLE/GETTY IMAGES

JOE RAEDLE/GETTY IMAGES Umbrellas and rain ponchos shield people out on the streets Monday in Miami Beach as Tropical Storm Gordon passes through on the way to the Gulf of Mexico.