Tropical Storm Mindy threatens flooding in Florida panhandle

Tropical Storm Mindy formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, and threatens flooding in the Florida panhandle.

The storm formed in the Northeast Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center tweeted just before 5 p.m. ET.

Tropical Storm #Mindy Advisory 1: New Tropical Storm Forms in the Northeast Gulf of Mexico. Tropical Storm Warnings Issued For the Florida Panhandle. https://t.co/VqHn0u1vgc

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 8, 2021

A tropical storm warning has been issued for the coast the of Florida Panhandle from Mexico Beach to the Steinhatchee River.

Here are the 4 PM CDT, September 8th Key Messages for newly formed Tropical Storm #Mindy. Heavy rainfall & Tropical Storm conditions are expected tonight for portions of the Florida Panhandle where a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect.

Latest: https://t.co/LPquAyTpD1 pic.twitter.com/L6fdsszll0

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 8, 2021

The storm was formed about 90 miles outside of Apalachicola, Fla., and was moving north east at 21 miles per hour, the NHC said in an advisory. The storm has maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour.

Little change in strength is expected before Mindy makes landfall.

The center of the storm is expected to cross the Florida coastline later Wednesday night, and move offshore toward southeastern United States into the western Atlantic Ocean.

Mindy is expected to produce total rainfall of two to four inches, with up to six inches across the Florida panhandle into southern portions of Georgia and South Carolina Thursday morning.

The rainfall may produce “isolated to scattered flash, urban and small stream flooding,” NHC said.

Mindy comes as the nation deals with several hurricanes and tropical storms this year.

Hurricane Ida, which made landfall in Louisiana late last month, left over 1 million in Louisiana without power and has led to the deaths of 26 people as of Wednesday. Ida’s remnants led to historic flooding along the Atlantic Coast, and left at least 50 people dead.