Depression forecast to become fourth named storm Saturday

Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Tropical Depression 4 was moving past Cuba and along the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday with the storm forecast to become tropical storm Debby later in the day.

In the 2 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center , the depression was about 15 miles west-northwest of Havana, Cuba, and about 185 miles south-southwe4st of Key West, Fla. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and was traveling west-northwest at 15 mph.

The depression is forecast to strengthen into a tropical storm, with the threshold 39 mph, later Saturday or tonight.

NHC is predicting a turn toward the northwest Saturday afternoon, followed by a northward motion on Sunday and then a slower northeastward motion Sunday night and Monday.

"On the forecast track, the center of the depression will move across western Cuba this morning, and then move over the eastern Gulf of Mexico later today and Sunday, reaching the Florida Gulf coast late Sunday or Monday, "NHC said.

Water temperatures over the eastern Gulf of Mexico are in the mid to upper 80s.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Thursday night in 61 of 67 counties.

A hurricane watch was issued for parts of Florida's Big Bend region, Indian Pass to Yankeetown, an area in southwest Florida still recovering from a devastating blow Category 3 in Idalia last August.

A tropical storm warning is in effect from the Florida Keys west of the Seven Mile Bridge, including the Dry Tortugas, and west coast of the Florida peninsula from south of Yankeetown to East Cape Sable.

A tropical storm watch stretches from Florida Keys north of the Seven Mile Bridge to the Channel 5 Bridge.

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

At least one tornado is possible across the Florida Keys and the western Florida Peninsula tonight through Sunday morning, NHC said.

"After the system crosses Cuba and emerges over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the environmental and oceanic conditions appear favorable for intensification, NHC forecaster said. "However, a faster rate of development is likely once the system gets better organized, and the cyclone is likely to be near or at hurricane strength when it reaches to the northern Gulf coast. Weakening is forecast after landfall while the system moves over the southeastern United States."

After landfall Monday, the storm is forecast to track to the northeast over portions of northern Florida and southern Georgia.

The storm is expected to produce rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches, with maximum rainfall totals up to 15 inches.

Previous storms were Tropical Storm Alberto, Hurricane Beryl and Tropical Storm Chris.