1. The depression is forecast to become a tropical storm within the next 24 hours and will likely bring tropical-storm-force winds and heavy rainfall to portions of the northwestern Bahamas later today and Saturday. Significant storm surge is not expected in the northwest Bahamas from this system. Residents there should follow any advice given by local officials.

2. The system could still bring tropical storm conditions to portions of the Florida east coast. Residents there should monitor the progress of this system and follow any advice given by local officials.

3. Heavy rainfall and scattered flash flooding is possible this weekend in coastal sections of eastern Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The chance of heavy rainfall affecting coastal North Carolina early next week continues to diminish.

WHAT'S NEW:

None.

SUMMARY OF ALERTS:

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
- Northwestern Bahamas excluding Andros Island

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
- Jupiter Inlet to FlaglerVolusia County line

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours. Interests elsewhere along the east coast of Florida should monitor the progress of this system.

Additional watches and warnings may be required for portions of this area later today. For storm information specific to your area in the United States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. For storm information specific to your area outside of the United States, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service.

WIND: [TOP] Tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area in the northwestern Bahamas tonight and early Saturday. Tropical storm conditions are still possible in the watch area on the Florida peninsula by Saturday or Saturday night.

RAINFALL: [TOP] The potential tropical cyclone is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations through Sunday:

The Bahamas...2 to 4 inches, isolated maximum amounts 6 inches. The U.S. Atlantic Coast from central Florida into South Carolina...2 to 4 inches.

STORM SURGE: [TOP] This system is not expected to product significant storm surge in the northwestern Bahamas.

At 500 PM EDT (2100 UTC), the center of Tropical Depression Nine was located near latitude 25.6 North, longitude 75.0 West. The depression is moving toward the northwest near 8 mph (13 km/h). A turn toward the north-northwest is expected on Saturday. On the forecast track, the system is anticipated to move very near the northwestern Bahamas tonight and Saturday, and east of the east coast of Florida during Saturday and Sunday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 30 mph (45 km/h) with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours. The depression is forecast to become a tropical storm on Saturday.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1009 mb (29.80 inches).

An Air Force plane extensively investigated the disturbance near the Bahamas during the past several hours, and in the last portion of the mission, the crew was able to locate a center of circulation, although weak, near the convection. The center was a little bit to the east of the previous estimates. Satellite images also indicate that the cloud pattern has become a little better organized and Dvorak estimates are T2.0 and 1.5 from TAFB and SAB, respectively. On this basis, the disturbance has been classified as a tropical depression with 25 kt winds.

Conditions are not ideal for strengthening since the depression is still embedded within a moderate shear environment, but this parameter is not expected to be strong enough to halt additional development. The NHC forecast still calls for this system to become a tropical storm on Saturday with gradual intensification thereafter. Global models insist on further development, and the reliable guidance suggests that the cyclone could even reach hurricane intensity in about 3 days, and so does the NHC forecast. By then, the system is expected to be over the Atlantic waters well southeast of the coast of the Carolinas.

Due to the reformation of the apparent center, the initial motion is highly uncertain. The best estimate is toward the northwest or 305 degrees at 7 kt. A weakness in the ridge over the western Atlantic is forecast to develop, and this pattern should steer the system slowly toward the northwest and then northward. In about 3 days, an eastward moving mid-latitude trough will force the system to recurve away from the coast toward the Atlantic. The track guidance has shifted to the east again, and this shift is larger due to the eastward formation of the center. Consequently, the NHC track forecast was adjusted in that direction, but it remains on the western edge of the guidance envelope.