Listen to an interview with Nicole Carlisle:

MIAMI -- Tropical Storm Mindy has formed in the Gulf. It's expected to make landfall tonight. Meteorologist Nicole Carlisle with the National Weather Service

says the Tampa Bay area will see some rain Thursday. But it should taper off in time for the NFL season opener with the Bucs and Cowboys.

Here's the NHC advisory:

Tropical Storm Mindy Advisory Number 1

NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL132021

400 PM CDT Wed Sep 08 2021

...NEW TROPICAL STORM FORMS IN THE NORTHEAST GULF OF MEXICO...

...TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS ISSUED FOR THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE...

SUMMARY OF 400 PM CDT...2100 UTC...INFORMATION

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LOCATION...29.0N 86.3W

ABOUT 90 MI...150 KM WSW OF APALACHICOLA FLORIDA

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...40 MPH...65 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...NE OR 50 DEGREES AT 21 MPH...33 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1008 MB...29.77 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

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CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for the coast of the

Florida Panhandle from Mexico Beach to Steinhatchee River.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...

* Mexico Beach to Steinhatchee River Florida

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are

expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case in the

next 6 to 12 hours.

For storm information specific to your area, including possible

inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your

local National Weather Service forecast office.

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK

----------------------

At 400 PM CDT (2100 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Mindy was

located near latitude 29.0 North, longitude 86.3 West. Mindy is

moving toward the northeast near 21 mph (33 km/h) and northeast to

east-northeastward motion is expected to continue over the next

several days. On the forecast track, the center of Mindy is

expected to cross the coastline of the Florida Panhandle later

tonight, and then move offshore of the southeastern United States

into the western Atlantic Ocean by tomorrow.

Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts.

Little change in strength is expected before Mindy makes landfall in

the Florida Panhandle tonight.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km)

from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1008 mb (29.77 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

----------------------

Key messages for Mindy can be found in the Tropical Cyclone

Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT3, WMO header WTNT43 KNHC,

and on the web at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at3.shtml?key_messages

RAINFALL: Mindy is expected to produce storm total rainfall of

2 to 4 inches with maximum amounts of 6 inches across the Florida

Panhandle into southern portions of Georgia and South Carolina

through Thursday morning. This rainfall may produce isolated to

scattered flash, urban, and small stream flooding.

WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected to reach the coast

within the warning area later this evening and tonight.

TORNADOES: A few isolated tornadoes are possible over portions of

the Florida Panhandle this evening into tomorrow morning.

The interview with Nicole Carlisle was recorded just before Mindy was declared a tropical storm.

Photo: NHC