Tropical Storm Fausto developed from a tropical depression on Sunday, positioned approximately 750 miles south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. The system featured maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and moved west-northwest at 13 mph. The U.S. National Hurricane Center indicated the storm would undergo steady or rapid intensification, with projections showing it would reach hurricane strength by the following evening. No coastal watches or warnings were issued at the time of the report.
A second tropical system was drawing forecasters’ attention in the eastern portion of the basin. Tropical Storm Elida was weakening and centered about 1,015 miles west of Baja California’s southern tip, with sustained winds of 60 mph. The National Hurricane Center expected Elida to transition into a remnant low within several days.
In the Gulf of Mexico, a tropical depression south-southeast of the Florida Panhandle presented a developing threat to the northern Gulf Coast. This system was nearly stationary about 190 miles south-southeast of Panama City, Florida, with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph. Forecasters anticipated the depression would strengthen into a tropical storm early in the week. A tropical storm watch was issued for portions of the Florida Panhandle extending to the Alabama border.
The slow-moving depression was expected to advance near or along the northern Gulf Coast in the subsequent days. Officials warned that regardless of whether the system acquired a tropical storm designation, it could produce heavy rainfall across coastal areas of northern Florida, Alabama, and Louisiana as it tracked westward toward eastern Texas.
Originally reported by AP News. Read the full story →