The National Weather Service is keeping close eyes on Tropical Depression 16 as it forms out in the Southwest Caribbean, and local EMA officials say the storm could have local impacts.

The TD is likely to form into Tropical Storm Nate later today or tonight.

The forecast predicts the tropical depression will move north into the Gulf of Mexico and it has the potential to strengthen into a hurricane.

While forecasters say it is too early to assume a specific area of impact, there are watches for portions of the northern Gulf Coast from Thursday evening toFriday Morning.

As the storm system is just beginning to organize, there is still a widespread of potential outcomes of landfall, forecasters say.

However, the most likely time of Tropical Force Winds for the northern Gulf Coast is late Saturday night to early Sunday morning. Areas between Florida and Louisiana should keep updated on the storm system.

The tropical force winds could arrive as early as Saturday afternoon.

Because the system could interact with some land, pinpointing the exact intensity of the system will be difficult.

There is potential for the storm to pick up intensity.

Most of the models used to predict the storm system suggest that Tropical Depression 16 will form into a Category 1 hurricane.