Tropical Depression 16

Courtesy of National Hurricane Center

Tropical Depression 16 is churning the waters of the Carribean Sea just south of Cuba right now. It has maximum sustained winds of 35 mph, keeping it just below Tropical Storm Status. TD 16 is moving to the N/NE at about 8 mph. Further strengthening is expected with this system, and we could see this depression become Tropical Storm Nicole before tomorrow morning.

Tropical Depression 16 will quickly move across the island of Cuba late tonight and head towards the Florida Keys on Wednesday. Although high winds are not a threat with this particular tropical system, heavy rain is, and some areas of Florida could see 4-8" of rain with this storm. Tropical storm warnings are now in effect for the Cayman Islands, sections of Cuba, the northwestern and central Bahamas, the Florida Keys, and parts of southeast Florida south of Jupiter Inlet. After this storm crosses Florida and moves into the open Atlantic, it could be a heavy rain producer in the Carolinas as well.  --TS