ORLANDO, Fla. — Tropical Depression 18 formed in the eastern Atlantic on Wednesday evening and could be a major hurricane by next week, the National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. Eastern time update.
The depression is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm by Thursday and gain hurricane status by the weekend before being forecast as a major hurricane on Monday, the NHC said. It currently has 35 mph winds as it moves west across the Atlantic at 15 mph. It’s unclear what impact, if any, it will have on land.
If it grows into a tropical storm, it would receive the name Sam.
