MIAMI — A tropical depression has formed near Jamaica, and it could threaten Cuba and the Cayman Islands as Tropical Storm Ida and potentially the northern Gulf Coast as a Category 3 hurricane.
The National Hurricane Center is also monitoring a disturbance in the central Atlantic, southeast of Bermuda, that is expected to turn into a tropical depression by the weekend. A disturbance in the far eastern Atlantic is also being monitored although its development chances are lower. None of the systems are a threat to Florida at this point.
Here’s what else to know:
Will Tropical Storm Ida form in the Caribbean Sea?
The hurricane center began issuing updates on a tropical depression near Jamaica Thursday morning, and by the 2 p.m. EDT update the storm was about 95 miles southwest of Negril, Jamaica, and 210 miles southeast of Grand Cayman.
Cuba and the Cayman Islands issued tropical storm warnings for their islands after the forecast showed the depression could strengthen into Tropical Storm Ida in the next day. It could cross the Cayman Islands Thursday night and over or near western Cuba late Friday.
The current forecast calls for Ida to strengthen into a hurricane after it passes Cuba, and rapidly intensify to 110 mph maximum sustained winds — right on the cusp of a category 3 storm — before making landfall in Louisiana Monday morning.
As of the 2 p.m. update, the depression had 35 mph sustained winds and was moving northwest at 13 mph.
Atlantic disturbance forecast to turn into tropical depression
Another area of low pressure forecasters are closely watching was producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms about 600 miles east of Bermuda early Thursday.
Favorable environmental conditions are possible, and the system could turn into a tropical depression later this week or during the weekend as it slowly moves toward the northeast, according to the hurricane center.
It had a 50% chance of formation in the next 48 hours and a 70% chance of formation in the next five days, as of the 2 p.m. update.
The next name on the list after Ida is Julian.
Where is the tropical wave in the far eastern Atlantic going?
Forecasters are also monitoring a tropical wave that was producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms about midway between the Cabo Verde Islands and the Lesser Antilles on Thursday.
The disturbance could see some development as it moves west-northwest at 10 to 15 mph over the next several days although on Thursday afternoon its formation chances jumped up again to 60% for the next 48 hours and 70% through the next five days.
Forecasters said the system is likely to develop into a tropical depression over the weekend while it moves west-northwest. It’s expected to turn north early next week.
The name after Julian on the list is Kate.
