Florida Under State of Emergency As Tropical Storm Hermine forms in Gulf of Mexico

A state of emergency has been declared for most of Florida as Tropical Storm Hermine moved through the Gulf of Mexico toward the Florida panhandle Wednesday. Previously dubbed Tropical Depression Nine, it strengthened into a tropical storm with 40-mph winds Wednesday afternoon.

As of 2 p.m. ET, the storm was about 395 miles south-southwest of Apalachicola, the National Hurricane Center said.
Hermine could become a hurricane, the center said. A hurricane watch was in effect for the area between Anclote River, near Tampa, and Indian Pass, just southeast of Panama City Beach. READ MORE