New tropical depression forms in the northwestern Caribbean sea

October 21st 2010

A new tropical depression formed on Wednesday night in the northwestern Caribbean sea, meteorologists said.

Tropical Depression Nineteen formed just before 11:00 p.m. EDT (0300 UTC Thursday) about 200 kilometers (125 miles) south of Grand Cayman, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

The depression is moving toward the east near 4 km/hr (2 mph) and a turn toward the south, followed by a turn toward the west, is expected over the next 48 hours, the Miami-based center said.

The NHC said the depression has maximum sustained winds of 55 km/hr (35 mph). "Little change in strength is expected on Thursday, but the depression could become a tropical storm in the next 48 hours."

The depression is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 5 to 10 inches over Jamaica, with possible isolated amounts of 15 inches in areas of higher terrain. Total rainfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches are possible over the Cayman Islands.