Update: Tropical Storm Weakens, Drifts Toward Gulf of Mexico

Tropical Storm Erika lost its punch off the coast of Cuba and was downgraded to a tropical depression Saturday morning, but forecasters warned the storm could regenerate in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

The National Weather Service canceled all coastal watches and warnings, but said the storm is still expected to bring up to 10 inches of rain across portions of the Dominican Republic, Haiti and eastern and central Cuba through Sunday. One to three inches of rain is expected across the Turks and Caicos and southeastern and central Bahamas.

South and Central Florida should expect up to five inches of rain beginning Sunday with some gusty winds, forecasters said.

 Storm Erika continues to lose strength and may weaken to a tropical depression as it shifts to the west to move across Cuba and Hispaniola, forecasters said early Saturday.

The National Weather Service said the storm continues to dump rain on parts of the Caribbean, but may completely break apart as it crosses over mountainous terrain in Hispaniola and faces further wind shear. Forecasters remain uncertain about how the storm will progress once it passes over the Caribbean islands.

The weather service said under typical tropical storm conditions, a tropical storm watch would be posted for portions of South Florida, but forecasters have chosen to wait until later updates to determine if Erika will be downgraded to a tropical depression, saying "there is a significant chance that no watches or warnings for Florida will be required."

Two reliable models show the dismantled storm limping near Pensacola or moving through the Gulf of Mexico to Texas, forecasters said.

"Assuming Erika survives the next 24 hours, some restrengthening is possible over the Gulf of Mexico in a less hostile environment," the weather service said.

As of 5 a.m. Saturday, the storm was about 75 miles south of Guantanamo, Cuba with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph with some higher gusts.