The center of Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine is located about 320 miles to the southeast of Freeport, Grand Bahama Island with maximum sustained winds at 30 MPH. Movement is very slow to the northwest at 2 MPH. Minimum central pressure is at 1009 MB or 29.80 inches.
Tropical Storm Watches have been issued for portions of the east coast of Florida, mainly from Jupiter Inlet north to the Volusia/Brevard county line. Tropical storm watches continue for the Northwestern Bahamas excluding Andros Island.
At this point, PTC-9 has been meandering over the southeastern Bahamas. However, the system is expected to move slowly northwestward on Friday, and continue that motion through the weekend. On the forecast track, the system is anticipated to move across the central and northwestern Bahamas on Friday, and along or over the east coast of Florida on Saturday.
Environmental conditions are favorable for further development and a tropical depression is expected to form within the next 24-48 hours.
Key Messages:
1. The disturbance is expected to become a tropical storm and bring tropical-storm-force winds to portions of the northwest Bahamas within 36 hours. Note that forecast uncertainty for these disturbances is generally larger than for tropical cyclones, especially beyond 48-72 hours.
2. The system is expected to bring tropical-storm-force winds and heavy rainfall to portions of the northwest Bahamas on Friday and Saturday. Significant storm surge is not expected in the northwest Bahamas from this system. Residents there should follow any advice given by local officials.
3. The system could bring tropical-storm-force winds and rainfall to portions of the Florida east coast over the weekend. Residents there should monitor the progress of this system.
Central Alabama Weather 