A tropical depression has formed near the Bahamas and is likely to bring heavy winds and rain to islands already hit hard by Hurricane Dorian.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Tropical Depression Nine formed Friday afternoon and could become a tropical storm by Saturday. The storm is expected to have some impact on portions of Florida.
Late Friday afternoon, the storm was centered about 240 miles east-southeast of Freeport on Grand Bahama Island and moving northwest at 8 mph. It had maximum sustained winds of 30 mph.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for the northwestern Bahamas, excluding Andros Island. A tropical storm watch is in effect for central Florida's eastern coast.
Meterologist Jeff Huffman with the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network says the storm is likely to have limited effects on the state.
"Forecast data is now almost unanimous in keeping the center of the storm well offshore through Monday. Then, it’s likely to make a pretty hard right turn to the east and head out to sea," he said. "So I’m quite confident that if there are any noticeable or significant effects, they will be mostly confined to areas near or east of I-95 from the Treasure Coast to the First Coast."
In those areas, Jeff believes tropical storm force wind gusts are possible with some of the heavier rain bands. And he says higher seas, rough surf, and coastal flooding will be possible near all Atlantic beaches Saturday through Monday.
