Tropical Depression Nine forms in the Caribbean—The Weather Channel

Another tropical depression is forming in the Caribbean, The Weather Channel has reported, and it could become a hurricane by next week.

Tropical Depression Nine is spotted in the central Caribbean Sea, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and is moving west-northwest at 13 mph.

“T​his latest system is in addition to Hurricane Fiona in the western Atlantic and Tropical Storm Gaston in the central Atlantic,” The Weather Channel reported, adding that they’re still in the very early stage of tracking this latest system.

Tropical Depression Nine will most likely become a tropical storm today, the Weather Channel said. Forecasters are also monitoring a Tropical Depression Ten in the Atlantic, which the NHC expects to be short-lived although may bring heavier rains to Canary Island throughout the weekend.

Whichever system turns into a storm will be either named Hermine and Ian, respectively.

T​his future tropical storm could become a hurricane “late this weekend or early next week” and could then be located “anywhere from the eastern Gulf of Mexico to near the Florida Peninsula as a hurricane by next Tuesday or Wednesday,” The Weather Channel disclosed.

Rains brought by the tropical depression “may produce flash flooding and mudslides in areas of higher terrain, particularly over Jamaica,” the National Hurricane Center (NHC) wrote in its latest bulletin.

Islands in the Caribbean that are affected by the heavy rains are Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Southern Haiti, and Southern Dominican Republic. Cayman Islands and Cuba should stay alert on the system.

The Weather Channel further explained that the system gets its strength from the lower wind shear and an ample supply of warm, deep water in the Caribbean Sea.

“L​and interaction with Cuba could be a hindering factor to its development before any potential approach to the eastern Gulf of Mexico or Florida early next week,” it said.

Recently, the region has been visited by Tropical Storm Fiona, with storm signals issued in several islands.