A tropical storm warning is in effect for northwestern Bahamas and the Florida east coast from Deerfield Beach southward including the entire Florida Keys and Florida Bay and along the west coast of Florida northward to Englewood.

A tropical storm watch is in effect for the east coast of Florida north of Deerfield Beach to Jupiter Inlet and Lake Okeechobee and the northern Gulf Coast from Destin to Morgan City, Louisiana.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 40 mph with higher gusts in a small area north and east of the center. No significant change in strength is expected before Bonnie moves over south Florida, however, some slight strengthening is possible when the cyclone moves over the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday.

Source: NOAA’s National Weather Service