UPDATE: 8:05 p.m. — Tropical Storm Gordon is expected to be a hurricane when it makes landfall along the North-Central Gulf Coast on Tuesday night, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Rapid weakening is expected as it moves inland.
Weather forecasters have issued storm warnings for portions of South Florida and the Florida Keys.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Monday that Tropical Storm Gordon is likely to batter the region with heavy rains. A storm surge watch is in effect for a portion of the Mississippi-Alabama border.
The center said in its 8:30 a.m. EDT advisory that the storm was centered 20 miles (30 kilometers) west of Key Largo and 85 miles (135 kilometers) southeast of Marco Island.
The storm was moving west-northwest at 17 mph (28 kph). Maximum sustained winds were clocked at 45 mph (75 kph).
WATCH BELOW: Tropical Storm Gordon has developed near southern Florida where it is bringing heavy rain and gusty winds on Monday before heading for a northern Gulf Coast landfall on Tuesday.
The system could dump 2 to 4 inches (5-10 centimeters) of rain over parts of the Bahamas, the Florida Keys and South Florida through early Tuesday.
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Meanwhile Tropical Storm Florence continues to hold steady over the eastern Atlantic, about 790 miles (1271 kilometers) west-northwest of the southernmost Cabo Verde Islands.
Florence was moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph (26 kph) and maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85kph) with higher gusts late Sunday evening.
Forecasters say little change in strength is expected in coming days and no coastal watches or warnings are in effect.
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- With files from Reuters
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