UPDATED 8/12 8am
At 800 AM EDT (1200 UTC), the center of Tropical Depression Fred was located near latitude 20.7 North, longitude 74.2 West. The depression is moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph (26 km/h), and this motion with a decrease in forward speed is expected during the next couple of days, followed by a turn to the northwest. On the forecast track, Fred is expected to move across the southeastern Bahamas today, move along or just north of eastern and central Cuba later today and Friday, and be near the Florida Keys and south Florida on Saturday.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast today, but slow strengthening is expected Friday and this weekend. Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands recently reported a wind gust of 39 mph (63 km/h).
The minimum central pressure based on Air Force Reserve and NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft data is 1011 mb (29.85 inches).
UPDATED 8/12 5am
(Miami, FL) -- Tropical Depression Fred will cause it to be a wet weekend in Florida as the majority of the state remains in the cone of Fred.
The National Hurricane Center says rain will start tomorrow in the Keys, and by Monday, South Florida could get three to five inches of rain with some areas getting eight inches. This could lead to flooding.
The National Hurricane Center reports that Fred is currently moving west-northwest at 16 mph with maximum sustained winds of 35-mile-per-hour.
Forecasters expect Fred to move near the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas today before moving toward north-central Cuba tonight.
Photo credit: NOAA