After emerging in the Caribbean on Wednesday night, Tropical Depression 19 is forecast to strengthen into hurricane and take initial aim for Mexico’s Yucatan.
At 8 a.m. on Thursday, the system was about 170 miles southeast of Grand Cayman, crawling southeast at 3 mph with sustained winds of 35 mph.
TD-19 is expected to grow into Tropical Storm Richard later on Thursday.
Under the long-range forecast, subject to large error, it would curve northwest and hit the Yucatan early on Monday and downgrade to a depression.
If it survives crossing the Yucatan, it would emerge in the southern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday.
