A tropical depression that formed in the Florida Straits was moving into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico early Monday and the U.S. National Hurricane Center said it could soon become a tropical storm. The depression’s maximum sustained winds were near 35 mph with some strengthening expected during the next two days. Forecasters said it could become a tropical storm later in the day or overnight.

As of 5 a.m. EDT, the depression was centered about 155 miles west-southwest of Key West, Florida, and was moving west near 9 mph. The depression was expected to bring 3 to 5 inches of rain over the southern Florida peninsula and the Florida Keys through Wednesday that could cause flooding and flash flooding. CONTINUE