• All eyes remained on Tropical Depression Nine, which forecasters are warning could make landfall in Florida as a major hurricane
• Experts says the Sunshine State should be prepared for a strike by a major hurricane from Tuesday to Thursday next week

The National Hurricane Center is forecasting that Tropical Depression 9, which former Friday morning, could become a Category 3 hurricane to make landfall in Florida on Wednesday morning.

As of Friday morning, Tropical Depression Nine was moving west-northwest at 14 mph with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. It was located 515 miles east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica and 1,015 miles southeast of Havana, Cuba. It is expected to become a tropical storm later today or tomorrow. 

It could then be located anywhere from the eastern Gulf of Mexico to near the Florida Peninsula as a major hurricane (Category 3 or stronger) by next Tuesday or Wednesday.

Forecasters say it will be named either Hermine or Ian depending on if it or another system in the far eastern Atlantic becomes a tropical storm first.

The National Weather Service urged Florida residents and visitors to gather supplies and track the forecast.

Governor Ron DeSantis has since issued a state of emergency as Tropical Depression 9 nears.