Tropical depression likely to form soon in east Caribbean

A tropical depression is likely to form over the eastern Caribbean, and it could develop as soon as this weekend, the National Hurricane Center said.

The broad area of low pressure is bringing disorganized showers and thunderstorms to the far eastern Caribbean, stretching west-northwestward for several hundred miles, the center’s 2 p.m. Saturday outlook said.

Conditions are favorable for it to develop over the next few days, and forecasters expect it to form into a tropical depression this weekend or early next week, the outlook said. It will travel west or west-northwest over the central Caribbean.

It has a 70% chance of developing in the next five days, according to the Saturday update. Areas in the far eastern Caribbean, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico could see heavy rainfall over the weekend.

The storm currently poses no threat to Florida.

The weather service is also monitoring a second area near Bermuda over the western Atlantic, the outlook said. By late Saturday, its chances of developing will lessen as it reaches upper-level winds.

It has a 10% chance of developing in the next two to five days, the Saturday afternoon outlook said.

There have been six tropical storms, two hurricanes and two major hurricanes, Fiona and Ian, so far this season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted between two and six more hurricanes to form before the end of the season on Nov. 30

The next named storm will be Lisa.