The Tribune

TROPICAL Storm Colin formed on Sunday over the south-central Gulf of Mexico and is forecast to hit the western coast of Florida on Monday.

The National Hurricane Centre in Miami said that the storm would produce heavy rain and possible flooding in Florida over the next few days and a Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for the west coast from Indian Pass to Englewood. The Warning is also in effect for parts of north east Florida and south east Georgia.

The slow-moving depression formed on Sunday morning but gathered speed and strength to become a tropical storm by late afternoon. At 5.30pm it was 465 miles south west of Tampa, Florida, with maximum sustained winds of 40mph and moving north at 12mph.

Colin - the earliest third tropical storm of a season to form on record in the Atlantic basin - is forecast to accelerate as it moves north north eastward on Monday before reaching the ‘Big Bend’ coast of Florida.