ORLANDO, Fla. — Channel 9 continues to track the latest developments with Fred. Read updates on the storm below:
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11:30 p.m. update
Fred is still mired over Cuba as of Friday evening and will be farther west over the Gulf as a result, Channel 9 chief meteorologist Tom Terry said.
The storm is also quite weak, Terry said, and will produce scattered rain Saturday. Sunday could end up being drier.
Meanwhile, Tropical Depression 7 is heading west toward the northern islands of the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, by Sunday. Land interaction will play a big role in Florida’s eventual impacts, if any.
5 p.m. update
Tropical Depression Fred remained very disorganized Friday afternoon.
The storm is expected to move back over water Saturday, and it could experience some strengthening then.
Read: How to prepare for hurricanes
Fred is forecast to move into the Gulf and bring Central Florida an increased chance for rain and thunderstorms throughout the weekend.
The storm is bringing heavy rainfall to eastern and central Cuba.
Stream chief meteorologist Tom Terry’s live forecast on Channel 9 Eyewitness News.
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11 a.m. update
Fred is still a weak, poorly organized storm as it battles land interaction with Cuba.
Meteorologist Rusty McCranie said the forecast still calls for Fred to strengthen as it approaches the Florida Keys.
“Our main impacts would felt Sunday with breezy, tropical downpours and an isolated tornado threat,” he said.
8 a.m. update
Tropical Depression Fred continues to move toward Florida. The center of the storm is currently near the north coast of Cuba.
Central Floridians can expect to feel some effects from Fred this weekend.
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Meteorologist Brian Shields said there will be on and off bands of rain and some gusty winds.
Two to five inches of rain is possible, with localized flooding.
There is an isolated tornado risk, mainly on Sunday.
5 a.m. update
A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Florida Keys and Florida Bay as Fred continues to move closer to the state.
Forecasters said Fred is moving west-northwest and is expected to turn northwest on Friday night or Saturday.
The storm is forecast to move along Cuba on Friday night and be near the Florida Keys on Saturday. It will then hug the west coast of Florida on Sunday.
Fred will bring a lot of rain to Florida. There is also a severe threat for tornadoes.
See: Tropical system terms explained
The storm’s winds are near 35 mph.
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The National Hurricane Center said it believes Fred will slowly strengthen over the next few days and could become a tropical storm again late Friday.
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