Florida Panhandle under storm watch as tropical depression forms in Gulf. Here’s what you need to know

(WTVY) - A disturbed area of weather in the northern Gulf organized into a tropical depression on Sunday.

The National Hurricane Center initiated new advisories at 10 a.m. for Tropical Depression 2, with the disturbance being given an 80% chance of forming within the next 48 hours during a update sent out earlier in the morning.

Forecasters issued a Tropical Storm Watch along the Florida coast from the Ochlockonee River to the border with Alabama as part of the new advisories, saying that tropical storm conditions with sustained winds at or above 39 mph are considered possible by late Monday or early Tuesday. At this point, nothing suggests the system will become a hurricane.

The primary concern may be heavy rainfall, with the potential for significant totals across parts of Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana.

If the system does reach tropical storm strength, it would be named Bertha — the second named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Along the coast, gusty winds could also be an issue, with the potential to knock down a few tree limbs and power lines. Widespread damage is not expected.

This story has been updated to reflect new advisories sent out by the National Weather Service

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