Tropical depression could form near the Caribbean this week

National Hurricane Center forecasters are monitoring an area near the Caribbean Sea that is likely to become a tropical depression later this week as it approaches South America, a path that would be generally similar to the initial formation of Hurricane Ian.

As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, the disturbance nearing the Caribbean had a 60% chance of developing in the next two days and a 80% chance of developing in the next five days, an increase from the 70% chance predicted Tuesday afternoon.

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National Hurricane Center forecasters are monitoring an area near the Caribbean Sea that is likely to become a tropical depression later this week as it approaches South America. Tropical Depression Twelve is no threat to land.

National Hurricane Center forecasters are monitoring an area near the Caribbean Sea that is likely to become a tropical depression later this week as it approaches South America. Tropical Depression Twelve is no threat to land. (National Hurricane Center)

A hurricane hunter plane investigated the tropical system Wednesday morning and reported it remains without closed circulation or a defined center.

The disturbance is currently hindered by strong upper-level winds, but conditions will likely become more conducive for a tropical depression to form while it continues to move to the west at about 15 mph, if it stays far enough away from land. Conditions likely will become even more conducive for development later this week when the system reaches the central and western Caribbean Sea.

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Should it develop into a depression, or even a tropical storm, it is forecast to stay well south of Florida and the southeastern portion of the United States.

If a named storm were to form, it would be Julia. After Julia, would be Karl.

[ STAY UPDATED with the latest forecast for tropical weather at SunSentinel.com/hurricane ]

Meanwhile, Tropical Depression Twelve showed little change in strength in the central Atlantic and is expected to be short-lived, forecasters said Wednesday.

As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Tropical Depression Twelve was moving northwest at about 10 mph with peak winds of 35 mph.

The depression is not a threat to land. It is expected to become a remnant low and dissipate by Thursday, the hurricane center said.

[ PHOTOS: Hurricane Ian’s devastation on Florida’s west coast ]

Residents across Florida are continuing to evaluate damage after powerful and devastating Hurricane Ian came ashore on Sept. 28 in Lee County as a Category 4 storm with winds of 155 mph. Ian is one of the strongest storms ever to make landfall in the United States.

Barrier islands along the southwest Gulf coast took the hardest hit, with many regions unlivable. Central and northeast Florida are monitoring rising waters left behind after the storm crossed the state and regained hurricane strength before coming ashore again in South Carolina.