KEY WEST, Fla. — Tropical Depression 18 has formed in the Gulf of Mexico south of Cuba and is expected to bring heavy rainfall and tropical storm force winds to South Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm is currently about 380 miles southwest of Miami and moving northeast at 20 mph.
An Air Force reconnaissance aircraft measured maximum sustained winds at 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.
Central Florida -- particularly Brevard and Osceola counties -- could see heavy rain from this storm as early as Saturday night, said WFTV meteorologist George Waldenberger.
"A flood watch is in effect just south of our area, for Okechobee and Indian River Counties, but we’ll be watching in case some of this heavy rain can push in from the south and fall over southern Brevard and southern Osceola Counties," said Waldenberger
Read: Tropical disturbance to bring heavy rainfall; cold front sweeps over Florida
A tropical storm watch has been issued for the upper Florida Keys and southeast Florida, including coastal Miami-Dade.
Pronóstico en español por nuestra meteoróloga Irene Sans