Tropical Depression Nine was expected to strengthen into a tropical storm Tuesday and make landfall around Florida's Big Bend area around midday Thursday, meteorologists said Tuesday.
The system was still churning with sustained winds of 35 mph in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday morning, forecasters said, but was expected to gain strength throughout the day and make the northeast turn toward north Florida before Wednesday morning.
"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.