MIAMI – A disturbance swirling over the Caribbean Sea on Thursday is now designated Tropical depression Nineteen, and forecasters say the system will likely strengthen in Tropical storm Sara later today.

The system was designated Potential Tropical Cyclone Nineteen Wednesday afternoon, which allowed the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and other governments to issue tropical weather watches and warnings in anticipation of the system reaching tropical storm strength within 36 hours.

Some of these models show that the system, previously referred to as Invest 99L on Tuesdaycould continue to strengthen and become a hurricane. Tropical storm warnings and hurricane watches have been issued for parts of Honduras. Tropical storm watches have been issued for parts of Nicaragua.

What is the latest news on Tropical Depression Nineteen?

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Tropical Depression Nineteen is located in the Caribbean Sea, approximately 280 miles east of Isla Guanaja in Honduras. Its peak winds are at 35 mph and it is moving slowly west.

What is the forecast for tropical depression nineteen?

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The NHC said Tropical Depression 19 would continue moving westward Thursday, crossing the western Caribbean Sea. After that, the system is expected to stall and meander near the coast of Honduras on Friday and through the weekend.

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Florida on alert as long-range forecasts indicate possible impacts from probable-Sara

Probably-Sara is scheduled to tour Central America throughout the weekend and into MexicoYucatán Peninsula until early next week as guiding currents remain light.

“High pressure boosts from the north and west over the weekend, and that pretty much locks this thing in the Caribbean until early next week,” the FOX weather forecaster said. Ian Olivier said. “There’s nowhere to go north because… this high pressure is acting like a wall. So this thing is stuck there… that’s why this (forecast) cone looks pretty great at this point.”

During this time, the system can take advantage of warm waters and low temperatures. wind shear while it rests above the water, although the storm may weaken some if it drifts on land.

High pressure is expected to begin moving Tuesday or Wednesday next week, potentially freeing the Gulf of Mexico. But where she settles will ultimately determine future-Sara’s path.

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Steering currents could push the system towards Central America or likely allow Sara to move north and head towards the Gulf of Mexico next week – and could possibly impact Florida.

“The fact that such a great diversity of computer forecasting models “As always, when a system is just developing, forecast errors are likely to be large. »

In the meantime, the forecast cone will remain locked in until a day or two, when the fifth forecast day moves to next week.

“It won’t be until (Thursday) (or) the next day, when we have that five-day cone in the Gulf of Mexico, that we’ll start to see it have more of an arc shape towards the Gulf of Mexico to the north and east,” Oliver said.