Cape Coral City Council decides not to put stipends on ballotGuiding young men keeps former FSW coach motivated as he joins NCAA
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Tropical Depression Nine is expected to become Tropical Storm Hermine soon, but with forecasts showing a track well to the north of Southwest Florida, the system is expected to have a relatively minimal impact on the area. Heavy rain and breezy conditions are still possible as the system boomerangs toward Florida. A flood watch is in effect until 8 a.m. Wednesday for Collier, Hendry and DeSoto counties. The system was centered west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico moving northwest at 5 mph as of 5 p.m. Tuesday. It had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. Model plots show a turn to the north and east Wednesday, with landfall at tropical storm strength expected sometime Thursday between the Tampa Bay area and the Florida panhandle. Most of the effects on Southwest Florida should be felt Wednesday and Thursday, with a return to the usual summer pattern of scattered storms for Labor Day weekend. Wind shear was still affecting the depression Tuesday morning, but that’s expected to become less of a factor, giving the system a better opportunity to gather strength. Increased areas of convection emerged Tuesday morning, a sign that the system is becoming stronger as it moves over warm water in the gulf. Visit WINK News Hurricane Central for continued updates and to make sure you have what you need to be prepared for the effects of any tropical system.