The National Hurricane Center has upgraded Tropical Depression 99L to Tropical Storm Hermine.
A Hurricane Watch for the Florida Gulf coast from the Anclote River to Indian Pass. A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for the Florida Gulf coast west of Indian Pass to the Walton/Bay County line. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Marineland Florida to Altamaha Sound Georgia.
At 2:00 PM EDT the center of Tropical Storm Hermine was located about 415 miles west of Tampa. The storm is moving north at 2 mph. A north-northeastward motion at a faster forward speed is expected to begin later today, and a turn toward the northeast is forecast tonight. On the forecast track, the center of the storm will approach the northwest Florida coast in the warning area on Thursday afternoon.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to 40 mph with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and the storm could be near hurricane strength by the time landfall occurs.
The National Hurricane Center issue the next complete update at 5:00 PM EDT.