PM Update: Depression 17 Forms in Caribbean; Likely to Become Hurricane Paloma

In a reminder that the official hurricane season lasts through November, a stormy area in the southwestern Caribbean has organized this afternoon into Tropical Depression 17. Atmospheric and oceanic conditions are favorable for development, and the depression is expected to become a tropical storm and possibly a hurricane in the next couple of days. Two major models are forecasting the storm to reach major hurricane strength before crossing Cuba.

Maximum winds are now about 30 mph as the depression moves northwest at 5 mph. Heavy rains are predicted for eastern Honduras and northeastern Nicaragua as the storm moves near the coast, then turns more northerly and eventually northeasterly toward eastern Cuba.

Images: Caribbean satellite image from The Weather Channel, TD 17 forecast track from National Hurricane Center