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The tropical depression churning in the Gulf and heading to the Florida Gulf Coast is now a Tropical storm.

Tropical Storm Hermine is expected to finally make that turn to the northeast later today before making landfall along Florida’s Big Bend late Thursday into Friday.

Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the Florida Gulf Coast from Walton County on the panhandle down to just north of the Tampa/St. Petersburg area.

A hurricane watch is in effect from Apalachicola down to just north of the Tampa area. Jacksonville, Flordia, Savannah, Georgia, and the North and South Carolina coastlines can expect heavy rains and possible flooding as the storm moves across their areas heading into the weekend.

Once it reenters the Atlantic, it’s possible the system could strengthen into a hurricane so further watches and warnings may be needed along the Atlantic coast.