A new tropical depression, known as TD #13 for now, is likely to become Hurricane Leslie by this weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Florida. Fortunately, it appears this storm will remain at sea and not be a threat to North America.
As of the latest update from the NHC, the tropical depression was located about 430 miles southwest of the southernmost Cabo Verde Islands. Maximum sustained winds are only 35 mph for now with a minimum central pressure of 1006 mb or 29.71″.
The depression is moving toward the west near 7 mph and a general westward motion is expected for the next day or so followed by a turn more west-northwestward by the weekend. While maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts for now, the NHC says that gradual strengthening is forecast, and the depression could become a tropical storm by tonight.
When this system becomes a tropical storm it will be given the name Leslie.
Beyond then, it is forecast to become a hurricane by Saturday morning. Even so, it should curve away from the Caribbean and only spin about over the open waters of the North Atlantic.
