June 19 (Reuters) - The third topical depression of the 2023 hurricane season has formed in the central tropical Atlantic and is expected to become a hurricane in a few days, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Monday.
The depression, about 1,425 miles (2,295 km) east of the southern Windward Islands, is packing maximum sustained winds of 35 miles per hour (55 km per hour), the Miami-based forecaster said.
"The depression is forecast to strengthen and move across the Lesser Antilles as a hurricane on Thursday and Friday, bringing a risk of flooding from heavy rainfall, hurricane-force winds, and dangerous storm surge and waves," the hurricane center said.
If the depression becomes a hurricane, it would be the first one of the 2023 season, which lasts from June through November.
A slightly below-average 2023 Atlantic hurricane season lies ahead with an El Nino weather phenomenon damping the storm outlook, researchers at Colorado State University predicted in April.
Persons:
Jonathan Oatis
Organizations:
U.S, National Hurricane Center, Atlantic, El, Colorado State University, Thomson
Locations:
Windward, Miami, Lesser, Puerto Rico, Virgin, El Nino, Bengaluru