ORLANDO, Fla. -- Strong storm cells from Tropical Storm Barry moved into the Central Florida early Saturday and dumped more than 5 inches of rain in some areas, causing some flooding in neighborhoods.

Local 6 reported that the flooding was reported in southern Brevard County in the Palm Bay, Melbourne and Satellite Beach areas.

"This is some serious flooding that has been occurring in the Melbourne area because of this very heavy rain that has come down so quickly," Local 6 meteorologist Larry Mowry said. "So far, in Melbourne, more than 5 inches of rain has fallen and we are getting reports of flooding in the Melbourne area, in particular (near) the Eau Gallie Causeway."

Melbourne police reported 3 feet of water near U.S. 1, just north of the airport.

Winds recorded in Brevard County have been gusting up to 40 mph.

In Orlando, there were only light showers reported early Saturday but Mowry said there was still a possibility that a tornado watch would be issued later in the day.

Path Puts Orlando On Right Side Of Storm

The latest projected path of Tropical Storm Barry continued to push the storm over north Central Florida, strengthening the chance that some counties will experience severe weather as the system moves over the region.

Mowry said the storm showed signs of weakening late Friday.

"One thing I've noticed is that the thunderstorms that were really flaring up quite clearly at 5 and 6 p.m., they've started to shift away from the center of circulation which is a sign of weakening," Mowry said.

At 8 a.m. EDT, Barry was centered in the Gulf of Mexico about 85 miles southwest of Tampa. It had sustained winds of about 50 mph near the center with higher gusts and was moving north-northeast at about 20 mph. Wind gusts of up to 47 mph were reported on the state's southern and eastern coasts Saturday morning.

Barry's projected path shows the storm producing 50 mph winds off the west coast of Florida Saturday at 8 a.m.

The track then takes the storm into north Florida and southern Georgia later Saturday.

Tropical Storm Warnings Issued

Forecasters issued a tropical storm warning, which means tropical storm conditions are expected in the next day, for the Gulf Coast from Bonita Beach to Keaton Beach. A less severe tropical storm watch, meaning such conditions were expected within 36 hours, was issued from north of Keaton Beach to St. Marks.

Barry's maximum sustained winds were about 45 mph. The hurricane center said it threatened to bring dangerous battering waves, coastal flooding of up to 5 feet and rainfall of 3 to 6 inches in the Florida Keys up through southeast Georgia.

Tropical Storm Barry formed more than three weeks after the first named storm of the year -- Subtropical Storm Andrea -- developed about 150 miles northeast of Daytona Beach. Andrea skirted the southern Atlantic coast but caused minimal damage.

First Day Of Hurricane Season

Word of the storm's development came on the first official day of a hurricane season forecasters have said they expect to be busier than normal. The National Weather Service said it expects 13 to 17 tropical storms, with seven to 10 of them becoming hurricanes and three to five of them in the strong category.

Roberts said it was "coincidence, maybe" that the storm formed on the first day of the season.

Florida is facing one of its worst droughts on record, but the tropical weather wasn't expected to ease conditions much.

"It'll help a little bit, but everyone is so far below rainfall that we're still going to be under drought conditions," said Kim Brabander, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. "To really alleviate the drought conditions we're going to need anywhere from 30 to 40 inches of rain."

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.