Things happen fast in the tropics, and just like that we have a tropical depression that will be moving across South Florida and into the Gulf on Saturday.

For Central and South Florida, especially on the west coast of the state, this doesn’t really change much for the weekend forecast.

Those in these areas should expect off and on showers and storms, with the potential for localized flooding in some locations thanks to recent heavy rains. No real impacts beyond this are expected for the Peninsula, as the storm will be moving away as it develops.

It’s a bit of a different story for the northeast Gulf Coast. Areas from the Florida Panhandle, west to the mouth of the Mississippi, need to be watching this closely for track shifts and intensity changes over the weekend. The environment is pretty favorable for development in the eastern Gulf, with generally low wind shear and very warm water. It’s not out of the question that this becomes a hurricane, especially if it slows down a bit as expected and spends more time over the water. You’ll want to check back with us for updates through the weekend.

Today, September 10, is the statistical peak of the Atlantic hurricane season and the map is lit up like a Christmas tree with areas to watch.

First things first, the two named storms we have currently – Paulette and Rene – will not be an issue for the U.S. or Caribbean. The island of Bermuda however, may have a close call with Paulette early next week.

Vigorous tropical waves continue to roll off the coast of Africa. Sally is up next on the list, which will likely form in the Central Atlantic at some point in the next few days. This will be one to watch next week as it heads toward the Lesser Antilles. It’s far too early to speculate whether or not this will have any impact on the U.S.

There are two areas of disorganized showers and storms closer to home right now – one near the Bahamas and one in the Gulf. While some development is possible with both of these, for now just expect rain chances to stay high across Florida and parts of the northern Gulf Coast through the weekend.