Two tropical depressions could form this week; one could bring rain to South Florida on Election Day

A system off the east coast of Florida could develop into a tropical depression early next week, and a short-lived tropical depression or Tropical Storm Nicole could form as early as Sunday several hundred miles east of Bermuda.

As of early Sunday, the system near Bermuda had a 70% chance of developing in the next two days, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Meanwhile, the system off Florida could evolve into a tropical storm or even a low-end hurricane that threatens Florida’s east coast, but it’s still too early to say.

“Worst case scenario, and I’m kind of speculating here, it could be a tropical storm or possibly a low end hurricane,” said Shawn Bhatti, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Miami. “Can’t rule out a low end hurricane, but again it’s still really early and we don’t have enough confidence to say for certain.”

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Most of southern Florida could see strong winds and excessive rainfall next week as early as Tuesday, depending on how the system develops, according to the National Weather Service Miami.

Barry Baxter, also a meteorologist for National Weather Service Miami, encouraged South Floridians to stay vigilant through the weekend.

“We are technically still in hurricane season until the end of this month,” he said. “So don’t let your guard down just because it’s in November. It’s rare we get them this time of year, but we could still get them.”

On Tuesday, which is also Election Day, South Florida voters will likely begin feeling the effects as the system brings moisture up from the Caribbean Sea. Forecasters are predicting chances of wind, lightning, excessive rainfall, and coastal flooding that day.

“It’s going to be broad at this point, but definitely bringing moisture in,” said Baxter. “It’s going to be kind of a wet day.”

The National Weather Service Miami said in a briefing Saturday that there remains “low confidence” in “any specific details on magnitude and location of weather impacts which is highly dependent on what type of system approaches our area next week.”

But regardless of the type of system, there is a heightened chance of gusty winds, coastal flooding, high seas, rough surf and beach erosion on Florida’s east coast starting Monday and continuing throughout the week, according to the weather service.

“The risk of gusty winds and heavy rainfall could increase over most of the southern Florida peninsula next week depending on the evolution of this system,” the National Weather Service Miami said in its Saturday briefing.

The former Hurricane Lisa, a Category 1, dissipated Saturday morning over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.

There have been two major hurricanes, meaning Category 3 or above, so far this season.

NOAA has predicted at least four more hurricanes will form before hurricane season officially ends on Nov. 30.