Tropical Storm Tammy forms off Florida's east coast

Tropical Storm Tammy formed just off Florida's east coast Wednesday and was expected to bring heavy rain to northern Florida and parts of Georgia and the Carolinas later in the day.

Tammy, with winds of 40 mph (64 kph), was centered about 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of Cape Canaveral at 7:30 a.m. (1130 GMT) and was moving to the north-northwest at 16 mph (26 kph). It was expected to continue moving in that direction while gradually slowing its forward motion.

A tropical storm warning was issued from Cocoa Beach north to Santee River, South Carolina, meaning tropical storm conditions are expected in those areas within the next 24 hours.

Robbie Berg, a meteorologist at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, said because Tammy will spend so little time over water, it is unlikely that it will reach hurricane strength of 74 mph (119 kph). He said it is hard to forecast where Tammy will make landfall because it is moving parallel to the coast "and one slight variation in its track could bring it onshore," reports the AP. I.L.