Eye on the Tropics

Tropical Storm Henri strengthens; Fred passes over Panhandle; Grace to become tropical storm

ORLANDO, Fla. — Channel 9 continues to monitor tropical storms Fred and Henri and Tropical Depression Grace. Read updates below:

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11:30 p.m. update

Tropical Depression Grace is expected to become a tropical storm on Tuesday as it brings rain and flooding across portions of Hispaniola, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Henri has strengthened.

Tropical Storm Fred has moved into southeastern Alabama and is bringing heavy rain and flood threat, spreading inland.

5:30 p.m. update

Tropical Depression 8 strengthened into Tropical Storm Henri on Monday afternoon, making it the eighth storm of the season -- the fourth earliest an eighth storm has formed on record.

Henri is forecast to remain off the U.S. East Coast, but a tropical storm watch is in effect for Bermuda.

>>> Watch chief meteorologist Tom Terry track the three storms live <<<

Tropical Depression Grace is forecast to become a hurricane while Tropical Storm Fred is moving further inland.

Fred made landfall at 2:15 p.m. near Cape San Blas, Florida, which is about 25 miles west of Apalachicola. It had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph.

Photos: Haiti rocked by 7.2 earthquake

There are no threats to Central Florida.

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3:30 p.m. update

According to the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Fred has made landfall near Cape San Blas this afternoon.

2 p.m. update

Fred

Tropical Storm Fred is 35 miles southwest of Apalachicola, Florida, moving north/northeast at 9 mph with 65 mph maximum sustained winds.

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There have already been reports of 58 mph wind gusts in parts of the panhandle.

Grace

Grace is still a tropical depression and will stay well to our south, but may move right over the Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti Monday afternoon and tonight.

Tropical depression eight, which will stay off our East Coast, is expected to become a tropical storm (Henri) sometime Monday afternoon or evening.

8 a.m. update

Fred

Fred is continuing to move toward the Florida panhandle.

The storm should move across the northeastern Gulf of Mexico on Monday.

READ: Storm Surge: What you need to know

The National Hurricane Center said the storm is expected to make landfall in the Florida panhandle this afternoon or early evening.

It could become a hurricane before making landfall.

Grace

Grace is continue to near the Domitian Republic.

Over the next few days, the storm is expected to turn and pass Bermuda.

The storm’s winds near 35 mph.

The storm is forecast to become a tropical storm late Monday.

5 a.m. update

Fred

Tropical Storm Fred is moving toward the Florida panhandle on Monday morning.

The National Hurricane Center said the storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall and dangerous storm surge along the panhandle’s coast.

READ: Atlantic hurricane season shows no signs of slowing down, NOAA says in mid-season update

The storm is expected to make landfall near Panama City on Monday afternoon or early evening.

Meteorologists said Fred could strengthen into a hurricane before it makes landfall. After landfall, the storm is expected to quickly weaken.

Grace

Tropical Depression Grace is approaching the southern coast of the Dominican Republic.

The storm could bring flash flooding and mudslides to Hispaniola.

Grace is expected to move into the Gulf of Mexico later this week.

Meteorologists said the storm could begin to slowly strengthen by Tuesday.

Follow our Severe Weather team on Twitter for live updates:

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Jason Kelly

Jason Kelly, WFTV.com

Jason Kelly joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2014. He serves as the station's Digital Executive Producer.

Katlyn Brieskorn, WFTV.com

Katlyn Brieskorn is a Digital Assignment Editor at WFTV. She joined Channel 9 in July 2019.

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