Fred strengthens to tropical storm as it heads to U.S. coast
City workers fill sandbags at a drive-thru sandbag distribution event for residents ahead of the arrival of rains associated with tropical depression Fred, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, at Grapeland Park in Miami. Forecasters say tropical depression Fred is slowly strengthening and could regain tropical storm status Friday. [AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee]
The National Hurricane Center said Fred has regained tropical storm status in the Gulf of Mexico as parts of the Caribbean gear up for impacts from Tropical Storm Grace. Forecasters said Sunday that Fred is forecast to move across the Gulf before reaching the coast Monday night or Tuesday morning. People from Alabama to the central Florida Panhandle are encouraged to monitor the system’s progress. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Grace is forecast to bring heavy rainfall to the Lesser and Greater Antilles over the next few days. Forecasters say both tropical systems pose a flooding threat.