ORLANDO, Fla. _ A tropical wave with a strong potential to become a tropical depression and possibly Tropical Storm Humberto was last detected blowing through the Bahamas Thursday afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The system is moving toward Florida and has a 70% chance of forming into a tropical depression in the next 48 hours and an 80% chance of doing so in the next five days, the NHC said.
"Conditions are becoming favorable for a tropical depression or a tropical storm to form within the next day or so as the system moves toward the northwest through the northwestern Bahamas and toward the Florida Peninsula at 5 to 10 mph," the NHC said.
The wave has not yet developed a "closed circulation," meaning its gusty winds are not strong at this time.
Should the system organize into a tropical depression it will be the ninth recorded depression of the year, and if it then grows to maintain at least 39 mph sustained winds, it would become Tropical Storm Humberto.
Meteorologists forecast heavy rainfall and powerful gusts Friday across portions of the Bahamas already affected by Hurricane Dorian, which brought devastation to the area with Cat. 5 winds and flooding earlier in September.
South Florida is forecast to be within the storm's projected path as it moves west toward the Gulf of Mexico. However, gusty winds and heavy rain is expected across the state, the NHC said.
An U.S. Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft is scheduled to investigate the system later Thursday afternoon, the NHC said.
A second tropical wave detected off the Cabo Verde Islands has a lower chance of becoming a tropical depression, containing 40% chance of tropical development within the next five days.
