Tropical Depression Forms on US Gulf Coast; Storm Fausto Strengthens in Pacific

Weather alerts are in effect as a tropical depression continues to develop along the U.S. Gulf Coast. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami forecasts the depression will likely become a tropical storm on Monday, prompting new watches for parts of the region.

As of Monday morning, the depression was situated approximately 120 miles south of Panama City, Florida. It carries maximum sustained winds of 35 mph with higher gusts. A storm surge watch has been issued for the coast from the Alabama-Florida border westward to the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana. Additionally, a tropical storm watch extends from the Mississippi-Alabama border to parts of Louisiana.

Forecasters anticipate the depression will move near or along the northern Gulf coast over the coming days. The NHC warns of a risk of life-threatening coastal flooding due to rising water moving inland from the shoreline within 48 hours. Storm surge, combined with high tide, could inundate normally dry coastal areas. Water levels are expected to rise by 2-4 feet along certain stretches, with 1-3 feet of surge possible in coastal Louisiana and Florida.

The system is also projected to deliver widespread rainfall totals of 2-4 inches, with isolated amounts reaching up to 8 inches from western Florida to central Texas. This heavy rain could trigger flash flooding, and isolated tornadoes are a possibility across Florida's Big Bend region.

Separately, Tropical Storm Fausto is intensifying over the eastern Pacific Ocean. Moving west-northwest at about 13 mph, Fausto has maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and is expected to become a hurricane later Monday. While no coastal watches or warnings are active for Fausto, the storm's swells are predicted to reach the west coast of the Baja California Peninsula by Wednesday, potentially creating dangerous surf and rip current conditions.