Update: Tropical Storm Claudette Weakens; TS Bill Strengthens Into Category One Hurricane

Tropical storm Claudette has weakened since it hit the Florida Panhandle just after 1am Monday. The storm is expected to progress through Alabama.

The system formed in the eastern Gulf of Mexico out of a series of rain and thunderstorms that soaked south Florida all day Saturday.

The tropical storm warning has been discontinued east of Indian Pass Florida and west of Destin, according to the National Hurricane Center.  A tropical storom warning remains in effect from Destin eastward to Indian Pass.  However, as the storm is expected to keep weakening the warning will likely be dropped later Monday morning, according to NHC.

As of 5am Claudette was 15 miles south-southeast of Brewton, Alabama and about 40 miles northwest of Fort Walton Beach, FL.

The NHC advisory also notes that Claudette is moving toward the northwest near 12 mph and will progress into Alabama later Monday.  A turn to the north-northwest is expected later Monday.

The maximum sustained winds are at 40 mph and Claudette is expected to weaken into a Tropical Depression later today as it remains over land.  Furthermore, 3 to 6 inches of rain are expected across the Florida panhandle, the Big Bend region, south and central Alabama, and the southwestern area of Georgia.

Meanwhile, according to the 5am NHC advisory, tropical storm Bill strengthened into the first first hurricane for the 2009 Atlantic Season. Bill is a category one hurricane and is expected to strengthen by mid-week.  Hurricane Bill is 1160 miles east of the Lesser Antilles.

Bill is moving west-northwest at 22 mph and is expected to maintain that direction and speed for the next 24 to 48 hours.

Related posts:

1. Fourth Tropical Depression Strengthens To Form Tropical Storm Claudette
2. Tropical Storm Danny may intensify into Hurricane, hit East Coast
3. Hurricane Bill Strengthens To Cat 4; NOAA Sends Plane To Have A Look
4. Hurricane Bill Grows Stronger, Should Skirt Caribbean
5. Tropical Storm Ida Strengthening Over Yucatan, Becomes Hurricane Again