A tropical depression formed in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico Thursday and was expected to bring heavy rainfall to Florida over the coming days.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Thursday that Tropical Depression Two formed with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph.
No coastal watches or warnings were anticipated as the depression was expected to remain off shore and be short-lived, forecasters said.
The depression could become a tropical storm Friday morning, but should begin to weaken by Friday night and degenerate into a remnant low by Saturday, the NHC said.
The depression comes as Thursday marks the first official day of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season.
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Regardless of whether the system becomes a named storm, heavy rainfall is forecast for parts of Florida through the weekend as a result.
U.S. & World
By this weekend, forecasters say environmental conditions are unfavorable for additional development as the area drifts south and remains offshore in the Gulf.
If it becomes a named system, it would be named Arlene.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting a "near-normal" 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, with 12-17 named storms expected according to predictions released May 25.
Of those named storms, five to nine are expected to be hurricanes and one to four could be major hurricanes.
