Tropical Storm Fred is getting stronger as it moves north through the Gulf of Mexico.
The National Hurricane Center’s 5-o’clock Sunday advisory says Fred’s maximum sustained winds have increased to 45-mph and more strengthening is expected before it makes landfall.
On the forecast track, the center of Fred should move across the eastern and northern Gulf of Mexico through Monday, then make landfall in the western Florida Panhandle Monday afternoon or Monday night.
Fred is expected to produce the following rainfall amounts:
Through Tuesday...
The Florida Big Bend and Panhandle... 4 to 8 inches with isolated maximum storm totals of 12 inches.
Southeast Alabama through western and northern Georgia, and the western Carolinas... 3 to 6 inches with isolated maximum storm totals of 9 inches.
Heavy rainfall across portions of Florida, southern Alabama, portions of Georgia, and the western Carolinas could lead to flash, urban, small stream and isolated river flooding impacts.
Meanwhile, Grace has been downgraded to a tropical depression. The center of the storm is expected to track over Hispaniola and Cuba. The interaction with land will keep Grace from getting better organized and intensifying. The 5-p.m. advisory from the NHC suggests Grace will stay south of the Florida Keys before entering the Gulf of Mexico by midweek.
Images courtesy National Hurricane Center.