Tropical Depression Four brings hurricane watch, storm warnings to Florida

MIAMI - A hurricane watch and tropical storm warnings have been issued for parts of Florida as Tropical Depression Four makes its way toward the state.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the system was about 115 miles south of Key West as of Saturday morning. It was moving to the west-northwest at 15 mph with sustained winds of 35 mph. The NHC also stated that TD4 may evolve into a tropical storm over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico by late Saturday. If that is the case, it will become Tropical Storm Debby.

The system is forecast to slow down and turn to the northwest on Friday night or Saturday. It will then take a turn to the north on Sunday. On the forecast track, the disturbance is expected to move over Cuba on Friday, cross the Straits of Florida on Saturday, and then move near or over the west coast of Florida Saturday night through Sunday night.

On Saturday, expect increasing bands of heavy and gusty showers, which could bring on-off rain heavy at times and possible flooding with wind gusts averaging over 25 to 35 mph. By Sunday, morning bands of rain could come before improving and not-so-breezy conditions.

A hurricane watch has been issued for Florida's Big Bend between Indian Pass and Yankeetown.

A tropical storm warning has been issued for the Florida Keys west of Seven Mile Bridge, including the Dry Tortugas, and Florida's west coast from south of Yankeetown to East Cape Sable.

A tropical storm watch was issued for the Florida Keys north of Seven Mile Bridge to Channel 5 Bridge.

A storm surge warning was issued for Aripeka northward to the Aucilla River.

A storm surge watch is also in effect for Bonita Beach northward to the Aripeka, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor, along with the area west of the Aucilla River to Indian Pass.

According to the NHC, " tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area late Saturday and Saturday night. Tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area in the Florida Keys and the southern Florida peninsula by Saturday or Saturday night."

Portions of the state and near the southeast coast could see 4 to 8 inches of rain, with some get up to 12 inches, through Wednesday.