Tropical Depression 7 has formed over the tropical Atlantic Ocean, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 KPH) with higher gusts.
At the 5:00 p.m. update the National Hurricane Center said the tropical depression was moving toward the west at close to 13 mph (20 kph), and this general motion is expected to continue over the next few days.
Some gradual strengthening is likely over the next day or so, and the tropical depression is forecast to become a tropical storm on Thursday. Once its maximum sustained winds reach 40 mph, the system will earn the name “Fiona.”
However, regardless of development, the system will likely bring gusty winds and heavy rain to Puerto Rico this weekend. Recent rainfall has saturated the soils in Puerto Rico, so any additional heavy rain from Tropical Depression Seven or Tropical Storm Fiona this weekend could lead to flooding in urban areas and small streams, as well as trigger mudslides in the archipelago’s mountainous terrain.
“The rain is an issue – probably the biggest issue right now so far – because of its mountainous terrain, and the land is very, very saturated in Puerto Rico,” FOX Weather meteorologist John Marshall said. “They’ve had previous rainfalls from the other systems that worked through there.”
And while at this time, it doesn’t appear to be a threat to Florida, meteorologists are keeping a close eye on it.;
