A tropical depression is likely to develop in coming days. What NC should watch for.

A tropical depression is likely to form over the next several days from a system forecasters have been watching all week.

The National Hurricane Center said Thursday afternoon that a tropical wave over the Atlantic now has a 70% chance of becoming a tropical depression by next week.

Where is the disturbance?

On Thursday afternoon, what forecasters described as a well-defined tropical wave was producing showers and thunderstorms over Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and the southeastern Bahamas.

The system has been moving slowly west-northwest, and forecasters say conditions will be conducive for more development as it passes the Greater Antilles.

It’s expected to become a tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico, near Florida, by Sunday or early next week, meteorologists say.

Could it affect North Carolina?

It’s too early to tell whether the system will develop into a tropical storm and travel far enough north to affect North Carolina.

If it strengthens into a tropical storm, with sustained winds of 39 mph, it would take the name Debby.

Current forecasts don’t show it affecting weather far behind Miami over the next seven days. Gusty winds and storms are possible in southern Florida on Saturday and Sunday as the system moves into the Gulf, and forecasters have said residents of coastal areas from Florida to Louisiana should watch closely to see whether the storm develops further over the next week.

As of Thursday, forecasts for North Carolina through the weekend include heat advisories from Raleigh to the coast, and moderate to high rip current risks at beaches. Mostly to partly sunny skies are expected across the region through Wednesday, with scattered thunderstorms possible, according to the National Weather Service.