Tropical Storm Debby forms in Gulf of Mexico. What’s the Mississippi Coast forecast?

The outer bands of what is now Tropical Storm Debby swept the Florida Keys and South Florida on Saturday with drenching rains and gusts up to 50 mph.

In Everglades City, Florida, sustained winds were just under tropical storm strength Saturday afternoon, as a westward track shift appeared to keep the Florida Keys, and South Florida, away from Debby’s higher winds this weekend as it crossed Cuba and headed into the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

Rain remains the main threat from this system in Florida, enough to cause street flooding in low-lying spots. The Florida Keys remain under a tropical storm watch, with a tropical storm warning for Marathon south to Key West. Miami-Dade and Broward are under a flood watch.

The National Hurricane Center said the warm waters of the Gulf could help Debby keep strengthening ahead of a landfall Monday in Florida’s Big Bend region, which is under a hurricane watch, as a Category 1.

Forecasts first predicted the disturbance would move east of Florida. But models inched westward Wednesday and Thursday, and forecasters now say communities in the eastern Gulf are at greater risk if the storm strengthens.

“This represents a much more concerning scenario,” Weather Channel meteorologist Jim Cantore wrote on social media .

The National Weather Service in New Orleans said Thursday the disturbance was “not an immediate threat.” The agency warned it was too soon to tell if the system could impact Louisiana or South Mississippi and asked residents to watch the forecast.

Forecasters first spotted the disturbance last week. It was still unclear Friday morning where the system would go or how strong it could get. The National Weather Service said it may issue tropical storm watches for parts of Florida on Friday and warned heavy rains could bring flash flooding to the region.