US hurricane center says 80% chance of cyclone in next 48 hours near Florida

July 19 (Reuters) – An area of low pressure over ​the Gulf ‌of Mexico and near Florida continues to be better ‌defined ​and ⁠has an 80% ⁠chance of becoming a cyclone in the next 48 ​hours, the U.S. National ⁠Hurricane Center ⁠said in ​an advisory on ​Sunday.

Continued gradual development of ‌this system is expected and a tropical depression ⁠is likely to form later on Sunday ⁠or ‌on Monday ⁠as the system ​moves ‌slowly north ​or northwest, ⁠the Miami-based forecaster said.

(Reporting by Gnaneshwar Rajan in BengaluruEditing by David ​Goodman)