Miami ? Tropical Storm Barry formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Friday – the first day of hurricane season – and the National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm warning for a stretch of Florida’s western coast.

The storm was centered about 270 miles southwest of Tampa and about 195 miles west of Key West about 11 p.m. It had sustained winds near 50 mph and was moving north-northeast near 9 mph. Forecasters expected Barry to continue the same path and increase speed over the next day, but a slight decrease in strength was anticipated before possible landfall.

“We’re not looking for a hurricane,” said Dave Roberts, a hurricane specialist at the Hurricane Center.