NHC Tracking Tropical Depression 4

It’s not a hurricane, nor even a tropical storm – yet. But it’s out there off the Cape Verde Islands, where many of the most violent tropical cyclones have historically formed.

Miami’s National Hurricane Center is currently tracking Tropical Depression Four, located over the southernmost Cape Verde islands, and has issued a “tropical storm warning” for the area.

Tropical Depression Four’s center was last located near latitude 12.8 north/longitude 24.6 west or about 140 miles (225 kms.) south of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands. “The depression is moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph (26 km/hr.),” said the bulletin. “A gradual turn toward the northwest is expected today.”

According to the NHC’s 5-day forecast for the storm, it appears to be heading into the middle Atlantic towards Bermuda, rather that Florida and the Caribbean.

Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 km/hr) with higher gusts. “The depression is forecast to become a tropical storm during the next 24 hours,” said the NHC. If that happens, it would become “Debby,” the fourth named storm of the season.