Tropical Depression Forms In Gulf Of Mexico On 1st Day Of Hurricane Season

MIAMI (AP) — A tropical depression formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday, which is the official first day of the Atlantic hurricane season.

National Hurricane Center forecasters said in a 5 p.m. advisory that the storm had sustained winds of 35 mph (55 kph) and was located about 305 miles (490 kilometers) west-northwest of Fort Myers, Florida.

The National Hurricane Center predicted the depression could strengthen into a tropical storm Thursday night or Friday. But the system should begin to weaken by Friday night and degenerate into a remnant low by Saturday. Tropical storms have winds of at least 39 mph; anything 74 mph or higher is designated a hurricane.

The hurricane season runs through Nov. 30. Last year's season had 14 named storms, with extensive damage caused by Hurricanes Ian, Nicole and Fiona.

From the National Hurricane Center:

...TROPICAL DEPRESSION FORMS IN THE NORTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO... ...EXPECTED TO REMAIN OFFSHORE AND BE SHORT-LIVED..

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- RAINFALL: Rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches with localized higher amounts up to 6 inches are possible through Saturday across portions of the central and southern Florida Peninsula. This rainfall is not directly related to Tropical Depression Two. This rainfall could lead to isolated flash, urban, and small stream flooding impacts.