Tropical Depression Nine is expected to become a tropical storm by Tuesday. It's slightly better organized.

The strength of wind shear will determine what happens with the storm in the next could days.

A slight lessening of the wind shear overnight could result in the storm strengthening.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers moved up a preseason game against the Washington Redskins at Raymond James Stadium by a day. The game was originally supposed to happen Thursday, but it's been moved to Wednesday at 8 p.m. to avoid the storm. More information is available on the Bucs' website.

As of 11 p.m., the system is located in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, about 240 miles west from Key West.

Sea surface temperatures there are in the mid to upper 80s, which is one of the key ingredients for intensification. The depression is moving toward the west near 7 mph.

A turn toward the northwest and north-northwest is forecast for Tuesday and Tuesday night.

  • HOW CLOSE IS THE STORM?
    • Key West: 238 miles WSW
    • Tampa: 337 miles SSW
    • Orlando: 406 miles SW
    • Tallahassee: 459 miles S

Maximum sustained winds are at 35 mph, with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next two days.

As it moves slowly to the northwest and then north, it will cause a steady influx of moisture across the peninsula this week.

This will mean high rain chances for us at least through midweek, despite the classification of the storm. There is still uncertainty on how this system will evolve, but there is increasing indication that this system will travel north then to the northeast toward the Big Bend area of Florida and make landfall sometime late Thursday into Friday as a tropical storm.

There is still some uncertainty regarding the strength and exact track, but Central Florida should be on guard for potential tropical storm conditions late in the week.

Seminole County will open sand bag locations on Tuesday for residents. Find a location near you.

No watches or warnings have been issued.

Hazards affecting land

Rainfall: the depression is expected to produce additional rain accumulations of 3 to 6 inches over western Cuba through Wednesday.

Isolated maximum storm-total amounts of 12 inches are possible over western Cuba. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.

Total rain accumulations of 3 to 7 inches are possible over much of the Florida Peninsula through Thursday.
Isolated maximum amounts of 10 inches are possible along the West Coast of Florida from Naples to Steinhatchee. This rainfall may cause flooding and flash flooding.

Seminole County sand bag locations

  • Altamonte Springs
    • Eastmonte Park
      Overflow Parking Lot, 830 Magnolia Drive
      Open 24/7
      Bring Your Own Shovel
    • Westmonte Park
      624 Bills Lane
      Tuesday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. to Dusk
      Bring Your Own Shovel
  • Lake Mary
    • 235 Rinehart Road
      Open Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
      Bring Your Own Shovel
  • Longwood
    • Public Works Facility, 907 East State Road 434
      Open Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
      Residents may fill up 10 bags
      Bring shovel, photo ID
  • Sanford
    • Public Works Facility, 800 W. Fulton Street
      Open 24/7
      Bring Shovel
  • Seminole County
    • 4170 N. US Highway 17-92, Sanford
      Open Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
      Residents fill up to 30 bags
      Bring shovel


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