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HOLT, Fla., Aug. 12, 2021—Tropical storm conditions are expected here Saturday night through Monday as Fred makes its way northward this weekend.

With the entire northwest Florida area in the forecast cone, local impacts are expected after Saturday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service in Mobile; however, it is too early to determine any specifics related to the wind or rainfall at this point.

Tropical Depression Fred continues to move to the west-northwest and is forecast to regain storm strength while passing close to the northern coast of Cuba by tomorrow night.

Fred is forecast to move across the Florida Straits by Saturday morning before turning to the north over the eastern Gulf.

Little change in strength is expected through tonight, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Although Fred remains poorly organized after tangling with the mountainous regions of Hispaniola, slow strengthening is expected tomorrow through Saturday, and Fred is forecast to regain tropical storm strength as it nears the Florida Keys and south Florida.

Portions of southwest Florida are now under a tropical storm watch, including the Keys.

Invest 95

Meanwhile, Invest 95 continues to show signs of developing into a tropical system.

A low pressure area has developed and while it does not yet have a closed circulation, environmental conditions are expected to become more favorable for additional development, according to the NHC.

A tropical depression is likely to form by this weekend as the low moves west. It is expected to reach the Leeward Islands late Saturday or Sunday.

Should a tropical storm develop, it will be named Grace.

National Hurricane Center forecast