The tropical disturbance that had a medium chance of development has blossomed into Tropical Storm Mindy.
Mindy is about 90 miles southwest of Apalachicola, Florida, moving northeast at 21 miles per hour. Its top winds as of 4 p.m. were 40 miles per hour.
"On the forecast track, the center of Mindy is expected to cross the coastline of the Florida Panhandle later tonight," said National Hurricane Center Hurricane Specialist Philippe Papin, "and then move offshore of the southeastern United States into the western Atlantic Ocean by tomorrow."
A tropical storm warning is in effect from Mexico Beach, Florida east through the Steinhatchee River in Florida.