Tropical Depression 3 has strengthened a bit and is now Tropical Storm Bonnie. Movement is to the northwest at 14 mph.
Tropical storm warnings remain is in effect for the Florida east coast from Golden Beach southward to the Florida Keys, and for the Florida west coast northward to Bonita Beach. The central and northwestern Bahamas are also under a tropical storm warning.
A tropical storm watch has been issued for the Florida east coast from Jupiter Inlet to Golden Beach, including Lake Okeechobee.
Tropical storm conditions are expected over the central and northwest Bahamas overnight and Friday. South Florida and the Keys should experience heavy rain and gusty winds on Friday. Rainfall amounts could exceed 5 inches in parts of southern Florida and the Bahamas.
Impacts on the oil spill in the northern Gulf of Mexico could begin Friday night and should reach their peak Saturday through early Sunday. Squalls with heavy rain and gusty winds and waves of 6-10 feet may develop by late Saturday and Saturday night.
A tropical low pressure system is getter better organized in the Bay of Campeche in the southern Gulf of Mexico. Thunderstorms continue to develop around the broad area of low pressure as it moves off toward the west between 10 and 15 mph. There is a window of opportunity for this system to develop into a tropical depression before it moves onto the central Mexico coast over the next 24-36 hours.
Heavy rain, flooding and mud slides are possible in central Mexico as the low moves through tonight and Friday.
Typhoon Chanthu made landfall in southern China near Zhanjiang early Thursday morning EDT. Winds were estimated to be near 85 mph as the typhoon moved on shore. The winds should quickly diminish now that the center is on land. Heavy rain and flooding are the main concerns in southern China and northern Vietnam as Chanthu moves farther inland.
