The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has indicated that a tropical depression could potentially form near Cuba in the coming days. In its latest update this Friday at 8:00 am Eastern Time, the agency highlighted a significant 70% chance of this weather system developing in the southwestern Caribbean within the next day or two.
The report specifies that a broad low-pressure area is expected to materialize, likely evolving into a tropical depression by late this weekend or early next week. This system is anticipated to track generally north or northwest across the central or western Caribbean Sea. Regardless of its formation, locally heavy rainfall may impact parts of the adjacent land areas in the western Caribbean.
On Thursday, the formation probability was only 30%, but it has surged to 70% over the past 24 hours. Previously, the NHC had warned of a possible tropical depression forming in the Caribbean, near eastern Cuba, noting at the time that the developing low-pressure system posed no immediate threat to Cuba.
Anticipated Active Hurricane Season
Back in June, meteorologists from Colorado State University (CSU) predicted an "extremely active" 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, forecasting 23 named storms and 11 hurricanes, with five reaching category three or higher strength. These projections significantly exceed the 30-year average, which records 14 named storms and seven hurricanes, three of which are typically category three or above in the Atlantic.