Etta gains strength in the Gulf of Mexico

Tropical storm Etta was slightly stronger this morning as it warmed in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.

According to the latest advice from the National Hurricane Center, Etta is a tropical storm with winds of up to 60 miles per hour. It is located 350 miles southwest of Fort Myers or 150 miles west of Havana, Cuba.

Over the next 24 hours Etta will continue to strengthen as it begins to turn north. However, long-term forecasts suggest that the storm may weaken or subside before reaching the coast of the northern Gulf.

While Eta stays west of the SWFL, the cycle around Etta is still very large, so Southwest Florida will be handling rain teams later this work week. We will not experience 3 to 4 showers on Monday morning, but may pick up quick inches in some heavy rain locally.

It is difficult for these rain groups to go too far in advance, but we hope that on Tuesday afternoon the rain team will monitor over the SWFL, spreading from the coast to our inland areas until the evening.

The slow-moving storm will continue to blow over the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, leading to rough seas later in the week.

Stay tuned to ABC 7 as we continue to watch Etta this week.