A tropical depression has formed in the mid-Atlantic about 800 miles east-southeast of Barbados, and is expected to pass through the Caribbean as a tropical storm in the next five days, the National Hurricane Center reported.
The system, designated Tropical Depression Five, is moving steadily west at 10 to 15 mph.
The NHC detected just enough thunderstorms near the center of the system on Friday to upgrade what had been called Invest 99L to Tropical Depression Five Saturday morning.
As of Saturday morning the system had maximum sustained winds 35 mph.
On its predicted path, TD5 would approach the Lesser Antilles by Tuesday, though exactly where the center tracks remains uncertain. It is expected to increase tropical storm status as it reaches the windward islands, but its future development is speculative.
There are no watches or warnings in effect as of Saturday morning.