Flooding and high winds are forecast for the Florida Peninsula as a potential tropical system develops over the Gulf of Mexico.

Florida could see a Category 2 hurricane hit next week, bringing surge and high winds to the recovering west coast and serious flood risks to South and Central Florida. The National Hurricane Center’s first cone of uncertainty for Tropical Depression 10 puts it on an eastward path through the Gulf of Mexico and into Florida’s west coast on Wednesday — a second blow for a region still catching its breath from the devastating Category 4 Hurricane Helene.

Hurricane Kirk was a Category 4 major hurricane on Thursday, and waves from the system could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions this weekend along the