Tropical Depression Fred: Watches issued Thursday evening

Former Tropical Storm Fred remained a tropical depression after exiting rough terrain of Hispaniola but is forecast to return to tropical storm status in the coming days as it drifts into warmer waters. The first watches for Florida have been issued. On Thursday evening, Fred was still a disorganized storm with winds of only 35 mph after it traveled through the tall mountaintops between the Dominican Republic and Haiti yesterday. Tropical storm watches were issued Thursday evening for the Florida Keys from Ocean Reef to the Dry Tortugas, and for the southwest coast of the Florida Peninsula from Bonita Beach south and east to Ocean Reef, including Florida Bay.