MIAMI (AP) — A tropical depression formed Thursday in the Caribbean and could become a major hurricane by the time it reaches the northern U.S. Gulf Coast over the next several days, forecasters said.
Both the Cuban and Cayman governments have issued tropical storm warnings following the formation of Tropical Depression Nine, according to information on the website of the U.S. National Weather Service.
Late Thursday morning, the depression had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and was located about 115 miles southwest of Negril, Jamaica, and about 210 miles southeast of Grand Cayman.
The depression is traveling northwest at about 13 mph and is expected to become a tropical storm by Thursday night when it passes over the Cayman Islands. It could be a hurricane when it approaches western Cuba and the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on Friday, and a major hurricane by the time it reaches the northern U.S. Gulf Coast on Sunday, the weather service said. The central U.S. Gulf Coast should start to see rain from the depression by early Sunday.
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The depression is forecast to deliver anywhere from 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 centimeters) of rain over parts of Jamaica, Cuba and the Cayman islands. Forecasters warned of possible flash floods and mudslides and a storm surge of as much as 2 to 4 feet (.61 to 1 meter) above normal, along with "large and destructive waves."
This potential hurricane comes on the heels of Tropical Storm Henri, which was downgraded from a hurricane before lashing the northeastern United States:
Photos: Northeast girds for Tropical Storm Henri
Matt Prue, from Stonington, Conn., walks out into the Atlantic Ocean to body surf the waves from Tropical Storm Henri as it approaches Westerly, R.I., Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Waves crash against the sea wall near New London Harbor Lighthouse as Tropical Storm Henri approaches Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, in New London, Conn. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Waves pound the beaches of Montauk, N.Y., Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, as Tropical Storm Henri approaches. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
A woman walks in the rainfall on Penfield beach as Tropical Storm Henri approaches, Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, in Fairfield, Conn. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Waves crash against the sea wall along Pequot Avenue in New London, Conn., as Tropical Storm Henri approaches Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Waves pound a jetty in Montauk, N.Y., Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, as Tropical Storm Henri affects the Atlantic coast. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Flags on fishing vessels whipped by the winds of Tropical Storm Henri in Montauk, N.Y., Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, as the weather system affects the Atlantic coast. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Waves pound a beach in Montauk, N.Y., Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, as Tropical Storm Henri affects the Atlantic coast. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Cliona Becker Stratford, Conn., and Andrew Licata, of Jersey City, N.J., experience the wind and waves of Tropical Storm Henri in Montauk, N.Y., Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
People disembark from a ferry in Bay Shore, N.Y., Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, as it arrived from Fire Island. An evacuation order by the end of the day was ordered for the island due to the potential of damage due to incoming storm Henri. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Dr. Robert Long watches the rain fall on the Long Island sound on Penfield beach as Tropical Storm Henri approaches, Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, in Fairfield, Conn. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
David Jeancy, from New London, Conn., holds his son Grant as they watch the waves from Pequot Point beach as Tropical Storm Henri approaches, Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, in New London, Conn. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
James Masog, center, and Gary Tavares, right, move particle board into place to board up the sliding glass doors of a clients house in Charlestown, R.I., ahead of Henri, Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021. New Englanders were taking precautions as Henri barreled toward the southern New England coast. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
People fish as large waves hit the rocks at the Charlestown Breachway Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, in Charlestown, R.I. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Ryan Madigan, and his daughter Charolette Madigan, 11, of Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., stand along a beach in Montauk, N.Y., Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, as Henri churns up waves as the storm approaches. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
