Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Tropical system to bring us heavy rain and winds
Tropical Depression Nine, expected to become a tropical storm today, will bring several inches of rain to Florida through Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
At 5 p.m. Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said the depression was moving west at 9 mph. Maximum winds are near 35 mph and some strengthening is expected in the next two days.
It is expected to slow slightly today and make a northwestern turn toward the west coast of Florida later this week.
The depression moved away from the Florida Keys and into the Gulf of Mexico late Sunday.
The South Florida forecast calls for scattered thunderstorms through at least Wednesday, with fre-
quent lightning and locally heavy rainfall. The rain chances rise to 80 percent through Tuesday.
A rip current warning is in effect through 8 p.m. tonight, the National Weather Service said. Wind gusts are likely to be less than 21 mph, according to the forecast.
Forecasters said Florida can expect 1 to 4 inches of rain through Wednesday, though some areas may get up to 6 inches of rain.
No coastal watches or warnings were posted.
Tropical Depression Eight formed earlier Sunday off the coast of North Carolina. At 5 p.m., it was about 355 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras and moving west at 9 mph.
Forecasters said it could become a storm and threaten coastal North Carolina by Tuesday.
Maximum sustained winds were 35 miles an hour, just below the tropical storm threshold.
Farther out in the Atlantic, Hurricane Gaston moved north with top winds of 115 miles an hour at 5 p.m., forecasters said. Located east of Bermuda, Gaston is expected to make a slow northeastward turn today. The Category 3 hurricane is now considered a threat only to sea lanes.