Tropical Depression Five continues to accelerate northeast away from Bermuda, with the potential to become a tropical storm, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The weather service said in its 2 p.m. advisory the depression was located about “a few hundred miles” northeast of the island. During the 11 a.m. update, it had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and was heading northeast at 20 mph. Little change in strength was expected Sunday, but a faster northeastward or east-northeastward motion is expected for the next couple of days.
The depression poses no danger to Florida, and no coastal watches or warnings are in effect. The next update is expected at 8 p.m.
Meanwhile, forecasters are watching an area of low pressure along the northern Gulf Coast with potential for development.
“Recent satellite and radar observations indicate that a small low pressure system has formed within a broader area of low pressure near the northern Gulf Coast,” the hurricane center reported at 2 p.m. “The low is producing a few showers near its center, and some slight development is possible before it moves inland early Monday.”
The system is expected to move back into Atlantic waters off the Carolinas later this week, where environmental conditions are more conducive for development, the hurricane center said. It has a 20% chance of developing in the next 48 hours, and 40% through the next five days. Both estimates are a 10% increase from the 11 a.m. forecast.
Tropical Depression Five may develop by this afternoon as it speeds up in track, and then dissolve on Monday, forecasters said.
“Little change in strength is forecast during the next 48 hours,” forecasters said Sunday morning. “The depression could become a tropical storm today. However, the system is expected to lose tropical cyclone characteristics on Monday as it merges with a cold front.”
The depression caused persistent heavy showers and gusty winds in the region, with anywhere between less than an inch to three inches of rain expected in parts of Bermuda.
A gale warning was issued by the Bermuda Weather Service. The system caused high wind gusts on Bermuda and over nearby waters Sunday, with a 43 mph wind gust registered just northwest of the island, the hurricane center said in the 8 a.m. update.
Three hours later, the center said gusty winds and rain in and around Bermuda should decrease through the afternoon.
The depression formed Saturday. If named, this depression would be the earliest fifth Atlantic storm on record. Emily, the current earliest fifth-named storm in the Atlantic, formed on July 12, 2005.
Emily was the strongest July hurricane on record, with maximum winds of 160 mph, according to Colorado State University meteorologist Philip Klotzbach.
In May, the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur dumped heavy rain on Bermuda, which also had a brush with Hurricane Humberto last September. The hurricane came within 75 miles of the island before heading to open water.
Orlando Sentinel staff reporters Iliana Limón Romero and Matthew J. Palm contributed to this report.
Paola Pérez can be reached at paoperez@orlandosentinel.com or on Twitter @pdesiperez.
