Residents along the Florida Panhandle, Big Bend region and much of the eastern Gulf Coast were told to prepare for impact by Thursday.

The Storm Prediction Center has a Marginal Risk - level one out of five - for Marion and northern portions of Winston counties. Storms that develop could contain gusty wind and heavy downpours. Many of you today will be dry with temperatures topping out in the lower 90s. Rain and a few storms will continue through Wednesday evening.

A tropical disturbance, which is currently known as Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine is located in the western Caribbean.

The National Hurricane Center is now predicting a major hurricane will make landfall in Florida on Thursday. Thunderstorms associated with the developing disturbance in the Caribbean are gradually becoming more organized this afternoon,

A state of emergency was declared by Florida's governor as Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine formed in the Caribbean on Monday morning and was expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it makes its way into the Gulf of Mexico,

Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine is forecast to strengthen and be near hurricane strength when it reaches the far northwestern Caribbean Sea Tuesday night.

Hurricane hunter aircrafts are scheduled to investigate the storm environment this afternoon, so we should know more later today.