Mindy weakens to tropical depression as it moves over southern Georgia

Sept. 8 (UPI) -- A day after forming off the U.S. Gulf Coast, Mindy weakened to a tropical depression early Thursday as it dropped heavy rain over southeastern Georgia and coastal South Carolina.

In its 5 a.m. CDT update, the National Hurricane Center said the storm was situated about 80 miles south-southeast Valdosta, Ga., and 150 miles southwest of Savannah, Ga. It had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and was moving northeast at 20 mph.

"On the forecast track, the center of Mindy is expected to move across southeastern Georgia this morning, and over the western Atlantic by late this morning or early this afternoon," the NHC said.

The NHC doesn't expect the storm to strengthen enough to reach hurricane status and it's expected to weaken to a depression by the time it reaches the Atlantic Ocean Thursday afternoon.