The US Gulf Coast is on the alert, as the National Hurricane Centre continues to monitor the development of Tropical Depression Two.
Currently to the west of Florida, this depression is expected to become better organized and could become a tropical storm later today.
Once formed, it will be known as Bertha and will be the 2nd named storm so far for the 2026 season.
According to the NHC, tropical storm conditions are possible in parts of the Florida Panhandle by late tonight into Tuesday.
It adds that the combination of storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the immediate coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.
The system is also expected to produce rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches, with isolated higher totals around 8 inches, through Friday along the Gulf Coast and adjacent inland locations from western Florida to the Middle Texas Coast, including southern portions of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
The NHC warns that this rainfall may produce areas of flash flooding, especially in urban areas.
