While portions of the eastern U.S. continue to deal with the wrath of Ida and the clean-up from Henri, a new hurricane threat is developing in the Atlantic Ocean. Today, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Florida classified a new area of disturbed weather that moved off the coast of Africa as Tropical Depression #12. Now the NHC believes this system will become a Tropical Storm and Hurricane in the coming days, being named “Larry” in the process.

Right now, Tropical Depression #12 is near 11.2 N 21.1W which puts it about 335 miles southeast of the southernmost Cabo Verde Islands. Maximum sustained winds are 35 mph while the minimum central pressure is estimated to be 1006 mb or 29.71″. The storm is moving to the west-northwest at 16 mph.

The NHC says a turn toward the west is expected tonight, and a westward motion at a faster forward speed is expected during the next couple of days. Strengthening is expected during the next couple of days and the depression is expected to become a tropical storm tonight or on Wednesday. The NHC forecast  brings this system to hurricane status by Friday morning.

There are no watches or warnings up at this time. This storm is not expected to directly impact any land for at least the next 5 days.