Tropical Depression Nine is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm today and make landfall around Florida's Big Bend area midday on Thursday, meteorologists said Tuesday.
The system was still churning at 35 mph in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday morning, forecasters said, but is expected to gain strength throughout the day and make the northeast turn toward north Florida later today or tonight.
"Wednesday night into Thursday morning the eye is still out in the Gulf," 10Weather WTSP meteorologist Bobby Deskins said. "But the bad weather is out east toward Florida.