A “life-threatening” storm is gathering along the Gulf Coast and is expected to batter states like Florida, Louisiana and Texas with flooding rains and whipping winds starting Monday, forecasters warned.
A tropical depression – a cyclone with fast winds that’s typically the first sign of a tropical storm brewing – was spotted about 110 miles south of Panama City, Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The cyclone is expected to make its way northwest through the Gulf of America and travel along the US’s coast, developing into a tropical storm as it goes, officials said.
Storm conditions will extend from the Florida Panhandle to the west near Louisiana by Tuesday, the National Weather Service in New Orleans predicted.
Flash flooding is expected to ravage areas from western Florida to central Texas through Friday, with rainfall possibly reaching up to 5 inches along the Louisiana coast, forecasters said.
They also warned of 40 mph wind gusts, and possible “life threatening” storm surge along Alabama, Mississippi, and southeastern Louisiana coasts.
A storm surge watch is already in place from the mouth of the Mississippi River over to the Alabama-Florida border along the coast.
A tropical storm watch is also in place from Florida’s Ochlockonee River to southeast Louisiana’s Jefferson and Plaquemines parish line.
The terrible torrent is expected to cause storm surges of up to four feet along the coasts of Louisiana and Mississippi – and forecasters even warned of possible tornadoes in the Sunshine State’s Big Bend.
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