Tropical Depression Nine Forms, Could Strike Florida As Hurricane

Forecasters say a growing storm system has formed into Tropical Depression Nine with maximum winds of 35 miles per hour.

"So right now, it's experiencing quite a bit of upper-level strong easterly flow, so that's only going to allow it to intensify slowly over the next day or two. But we're also expecting more robust intensification once it gets into the northwest Caribbean," said hurricane specialist Dr. Philippe Papin of the National Hurricane Center.

Papin says the forecast track has the storm moving west-northwest over the next couple of days, crossing the west coast of Cuba and approaching Southwest Florida early next week. By that time, the storm could be a major category 3 hurricane with winds of 115 miles per hour.

There is no immediate threat to Louisiana from this system.