(CMC) TROPICAL storm advisories have been issued for the Cayman Islands and Cuba, as Tropical Depression Nine formed in the west-central Caribbean Sea.
In an update on Thursday, the US National Hurricane Centre said the centre of Tropical Depression Nine was located near 115 miles (180 km) south-southwest of Negril, Jamaica and about 210 miles (340 km) south-east of Grand Cayman.
On the forecast track, the centre of the depression was expected to pass near or over the Cayman Islands, the Isle of Youth and Western Cuba on Friday, and move over the south-eastern and central Gulf of Mexico Friday night and Saturday.
The depression has maximum sustained winds that are near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts.
The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said the depression will strengthen steadily and become a tropical storm tonight. When that happens, it will be called Ida.
NHC expected TD Nine to become a hurricane when it is near western Cuba or over the south-eastern Gulf of Mexico.