The storm is expected to head through the Caribbean this weekend, toward the Gulf of Mexico.
Tropical Depression Nine formed in the southern Caribbean Sea early Friday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center. As of 11 a.m., it has winds of 35 mph and is moving toward the west-northwest at 14 mph.
The forecast cone from the hurricane center shows the storm intensifying into a tropical storm during the day Friday. This system is expected to pass Jamaica to the southwest as it intensifies into hurricane status early Monday morning.
The National Hurricane Center's forecast cone shows the storm coming ashore early Wednesday, potentially as a major hurricane. The center of the storm could be located anywhere along the white line with the category 3 hurricane icon.
There are several recent model runs that show the storm crossing the Florida peninsula mid-next week. However, this is a recent change and it remains to be seen whether or not this will be trend going forward.
The different runs of the GFS favor the west side of the hurricane center's forecast cone. As of now, tropical storm watches and warnings have not been issued for any coastlines.
Once the storm picks up steam, forecasts will become more fine-tuned; we expect that to happen by Monday.
The conditions for development will continue to improve over the next few days. The storm has been limited by upper-level wind shear for the past several days, which is now letting up.
The 13WMAZ Weather Team is watching the models run to run and will have the latest for you on-air and online. We expect to have a much better handle on the system beginning on Monday.
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