Tropical Depression Forms Days Before Season Begins

9:43 am EDT May 29, 2008

MIAMI -- A tropical depression has formed off the coast of Costa Rica days before the Atlantic Hurricane Season officially begins.

"It won't be a rain maker (for Florida) today, tomorrow or this weekend, Local 6's Eric Wilson said. "But if (a ridge of high pressure) continues to be dominant as we think it will be, the system will continue into the Gulf and it reforms and becomes something we have to deal with next week."

Senior hurricane specialist James Franklin said the depression is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm within the next 24 hours as it approaches the coast of Nicaragua.

The depression was located in the Pacific, where the hurricane season started May 15.

The depression had winds of 35 mph and was moving north at 3 mph.

Forecasters said it was located 105 miles west-northwest of Cabo Blanco.

Franklin said the depression will primarily bring heavy rains rather than strong winds.

The Atlantic Hurricane Season begins June 1.