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The 13th tropical depression for 2020 has developed in the Atlantic, and the National Hurricane Center said at 5:00 a.m. that the system is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm later today, passing near or north of the USVI and Puerto Rico on Saturday.
"Interests elsewhere in the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico should monitor the progress of this system, as additional tropical storm watches or warnings will be required for portions of those areas later today," N.H.C. said.
According to N.H.C.'s 5:00 a.m. forecast, the center of Tropical Depression Thirteen was located near latitude 15.2 North, longitude 49.8 West. The depression is moving toward the west-northwest near 21 mph (33 km/h) and this motion is expected to continue for the next few days. On the forecast track, the depression is expected to move near or north of the northern Leeward Islands by late Friday and near or north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Saturday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is forecast, and the depression is expected to become a tropical storm by later today.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 1008 mb (29.77 inches).
Rainfall
The depression is expected to produce 1 to 3 inches of rain with isolated maximum totals of 5 inches through Sunday over the northern Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico.
Wind
Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area by late Friday.
