Panhandle could face storm surge, heavy rain

File photo of rebuilding efforts one year after Hurricane Michael.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Division of Emergency Management issued a warning Thursday for the northern Gulf Coast, which was hammered by Hurricane Michael just over a year ago, to brace for "dangerous storm surge," heavy rains and "isolated tornadoes" as a weather system threatens the region.

"The potential tropical system in the Gulf is expected to bring dangerous storm surge along Florida's entire gulf coast," the state division tweeted Thursday.

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"Please prepare for heavy rainfall, gusty winds, isolated tornadoes and coastal flooding."

The tweet came as the National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm warning from the border of Mississippi and Alabama to the Ochlockonee River in Florida and a tropical storm watch from the Ochlockonee River to Yankeetown.

A storm-surge watch was in place from Northwest Florida's Indian Pass to Clearwater.

The system, which would be named Nestor, is expected to develop into a tropical or subtropical storm Thursday night and slowly strengthen through Friday.