Tropical Depression Four Forms In Atlantic Ocean

TAMPA, FL — An area of disturbed weather in the Atlantic Ocean was officially upgraded overnight to become Tropical Depression Four. The system is on a westward path that may bring it closer to the United States by next week.

Located to the east of the Lesser Antilles, the storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 30 mph as of the National Hurricane Center’s 8 a.m. July 6 Tropical Weather Outlook update. The system was moving west-northwest at 17 mph.

Conditions in the Atlantic Ocean are no longer considered favorable for further development of the storm in the immediate future. “Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next five days,” forecasters wrote in the 8 a.m. report.

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On its current projected path, the depression is expected to be located north of Puerto Rico on Monday. What path it will take after that and whether strengthening might occur as it moves closer to the United States’ coastline remains unclear.

Should the storm develop enough next week to earn a name, it will be called Don. The system would be the fourth named storm of the year. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30 each year.

Although it’s still way too early to tell what, if any, impact the system might have on Florida or any part of the U.S. coastline, it does remind of the need to be prepared. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting an above-average number of named storms this year.

Residents readying for the ongoing season can get tips and advice on the federal government’s Ready.gov website. Folks in the Tampa Bay area can also check out this related story: Hurricane Season 2017: What Tampa Bay Area Residents Need To Know.

Graphic courtesy of the National Hurricane Center