Photo: NOAA
(Miami, FL) -- Tropical storm watches are up in Florida as Fred gets closer.
The tropical depression is expected to regain strength as it moves north along the Cuban coast toward Key West, and forecasters warn it could be a tropical storm again by the time it reaches Florida.
Tropical storm watches are now in effect in parts of southwest Florida and along with the Keys.
Thunderstorms triggered by Fred could start as early as this afternoon in parts of South Florida.
KEY MESSAGES:
1. Today through Monday, heavy rainfall could lead to areal, urban,
small stream, and exacerbated river flooding across southern and
central Florida into the Big Bend. From Sunday onward, heavy rain
and flood impacts could extend into other portions of the Southeast
and into the southern and central Appalachians and Piedmont as Fred
interacts with a front in that area.
2. Tropical storm conditions are expected in portions of the
Florida Keys on Saturday, where a Tropical Storm Warning is in
effect.
3. Tropical storm conditions are possible late Saturday and
early Sunday across portions of the west coast of Florida in the
Tropical Storm Watch area. The risk of tropical storm conditions
will spread northward along the Florida west coast and to the
Florida Panhandle Sunday and Monday.