As reported by WKRG News, Tropical Depression 16, located over Nicaragua, has strengthened into Tropical Storm Nate.

Currently, Nate only has sustained winds of around 40 mph, however, as it moves into open water over the Gulf of Mexico many experts predict that it’s likely to intensify.

As of earlier this morning, Nate was still about 1,000 miles from the Gulf Coast. Entering the Gulf of Mexico late Saturday or early Sunday, the warm waters of the Caribbean and the absence of land are projected to allow Nate to form into a hurricane before it makes landfall.

Presently, models place the center of Nate impacting the area around Mobile Bay. However, meteorologists note that projections often change as these types of systems progress.

We will update the story as new storm data becomes available.