Tropical depression is expected to form in the Caribbean Sea, could impact Florida

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A tropical depression is expected to form in the next few days, the National Hurricane Center said.

“Next week, what will become the next named storm of the hurricane season, can impact Florida. Invest 99L is likely to become a tropical depressing in the next day or so and continue to strengthen through the end of the week,” Max Defender 8 Meteorologist Amanda Holly said.

As the system moves slowly westward into the western Caribbean Sea, environmental conditions appear conducive for development.

According to NHC, further development is likely while the disturbance slowly moves over the western Caribbean Sea through the weekend.

“Confidence is growing in possible Florida impacts because most long-range forecasts have the storm moving in this direction but it is still too soon to say exactly where the storm will go and how strong it will be. The strength will depend on how much land interaction it has with Central America and Mexico through Monday as it meanders in the Caribbean,” Holly said.

The disturbance is expected to move slowly northwestward early next week.

The chance of development in the next 48 hours is 80%, and for the next seven days, it is 90%.