Tropical Storm Mindy makes landfall in the Florida Panhandle and is forecast to quickly lose intensity

By Dave Hennen, CNN Senior Meteorologist

Tropical Storm Mindy, which formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday afternoon, has made landfall over St. Vincent Island in the Florida Panhandle, the National Hurricane Center said.

A sustained wind of 44 mph was recorded at Tyndall Air Force Base, with a gust up to 55 mph.

Mindy will continue over northern Florida and southern Georgia through Wednesday evening and the early morning hours, losing energy as it interacts with land.

The system is forecast to weaken into a tropical depression before it moves into the Atlantic Ocean.

A tropical storm warning had been issued for areas from Mexico Beach to the Steinhatchee River, according to the hurricane center. The warning affects more than 100,000 people.

Because the system developed so close to land, there was limited time for intensification.

Heavy rain is expected to be the primary threat. Flash flood watches were in effect for portions of the Panhandle. Some locations could pick up 2-4 inches of rain.

“This rainfall may produce isolated to scattered flash, urban, and small stream flooding,” the hurricane center said.

There is also a threat of tornadoes, forecasters said.

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CNN’s Michael Guy, Judson Jones and Gene Norman contributed to this report.