Tropical Depression Nine Expected to Strengthen; Aims Toward West Coast, Tampa Bay

TAMPA BAY, FL — Tampa Bay area residents will want to keep a close eye on the weather over the next few days. A depression moving into the Gulf of Mexico is anticipated to reach tropical storm status before making landfall sometime Thursday along Florida’s west coast.

As of Monday evening, the storm was located about 195 miles west-southwest of Key West. The depression is expected to become a tropical storm sometime Tuesday. As of the hurricane center's 5 p.m. Monday update, the system had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and was moving west at 5 mph.

Forecasters anticipate the storm will turn toward the northeast between Tuesday and Wednesday, making landfall on Thursday as a tropical storm. On its current path, the storm has most of the Tampa Bay area in its sights. Regardless of where the storm makes landfall, forecasters at the National Weather Service anticipate the region is in for heavy rain and strong winds over the next few days.

“Numerous to widespread rain and showers with isolated to scattered thunderstorms will result in heavy rainfall with some flooding issues possible,” the weather service wrote in Monday’s Hazardous Weather Outlook report. “In addition, wind will begin to approach tropical storm force on some of the Gulf waters along with building seas.”

As the storm approaches, most counties in the Tampa Bay area have begun offering residents sandbags. Residents throughout the region are being urged to prepare for the potential for heavy rain and possible flooding.

The Tampa Bay area hasn’t been directly struck by a hurricane in more than 90 years. The last major storm to even come close to the region was Hurricane Charley back in August 2004. That Category 4 storm ripped through Charlotte County, leaving four people dead and an estimated 11,000 homes damaged.

Earlier this summer, Tropical Storm Colin dumped heavy rains on the region. Flooding was reported throughout Tampa Bay as that storm passed through the area.

To find out more about getting prepared, check out these related Patch stories:

• Hurricane Season 2016: Where To Find Local Information
• 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast Released
• Hurricane Season: How to Prepare
• 2016 Hurricane Names: Is Yours On the List?
• Tampa Bay 'Ripe for Disaster,' Hurricane Experts Say

To keep up with storm activity as the season develops, bookmark the National Hurricane Center’s website and keep an eye on your hometown Patch site for local information.

Image courtesy of the National Hurricane Center