Tropical Storm Watches expanded as Tropical Depression Two expected to become Bertha later Monday
Tropical Depression Two formed in the eastern Gulf on Sunday and is expected to bring days of heavy rainfall to parts of the Southeast.
Storm surge and Tropical Storm Watches expanded as Tropical Depression Two churns in the Gulf
Tropical Depression Two is expected to strengthen as storm surge and Tropical Storm Watches expand. FOX Weather Meteorologists Stephen Morgan and Marissa Torres break down the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
Tropical Depression Two is expected to strengthen into Tropical Storm Bertha later Monday in the eastern Gulf, which would become the second named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.
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Tropical Depression Two formed in the eastern Gulf on Sunday and is expected to bring days of heavy rainfall to parts of the Southeast.
(FOX Weather)
Tropical Depression Two was located about 100 miles south of the eastern Florida Panhandle Monday morning, with maximum sustained winds increasing to 35 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
A tropical storm is a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph, making it stronger than a tropical depression.
(FOX Weather)
Tropical Storm Watches expanded Monday morning along the coast from the Ochlockonee River in the Florida Panhandle to the Jefferson-Plaquemines Parish border in Louisiana, indicating that these areas could experience tropical storm conditions into Tuesday.
Additionally, the NHC warned that the storm surge along the immediate coast in this area could reach 1 to 3 feet.
A Storm Surge Watch was issued late Monday morning from the Alabama-Florida border to the Mouth of the Mississippi River, meaning that there is the possibility of life-threatening flooding from rising water moving inland from the coast. A storm surge of 2-4 feet is possible for this area.
(FOX Weather)
According to the NHC, Tropical Depression Two is currently forecast to move slowly northwest along the northern Gulf Coast over the next several days.
However, there is still some uncertainty about Bertha's forecast track after it forms later Monday.
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(FOX Weather)
"If the system stays weaker and moves inland sooner, the heaviest rain would spread farther inland across parts of the Southeast," the FOX Forecast Center said.
"If it strengthens and remains over the Gulf longer, the heaviest rain would stay closer to the coast before gradually shifting west along the Gulf Coast later in the week."
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This second scenario would bring the heaviest rain toward the Middle Texas Coast toward the end of the week.
(FOX Weather)
Meanwhile, forecast models are much more confident that this system will bring periods of heavy rain to the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend as it passes by. Rain totals of 2–4 inches are expected through the middle of the week, with isolated higher amounts possible.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.