A tropical depression in the southwestern Caribbean Sea is forecast to strengthen on Friday into a tropical storm before developing into a hurricane this weekend as it churns toward the Colombian islands of San Andrés and Providencia and the coast of Nicaragua, forecasters said.
Heavy rains were lashing the Guajira Peninsula in northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela early on Friday, with 35-mile-per-hour winds that are expected to strengthen to tropical storm force by the afternoon, the National Hurricane Center said in an 8 a.m. advisory.
A storm is given a name after it reaches wind speeds of at least 39 m.p.h.
The tropical depression was on a westward path. Forecasters said it was expected to grow more powerful and become a hurricane before it reaches the Colombian islands of San Andrés and Providencia on Saturday night and the coast of Nicaragua on Sunday morning.
On Friday, a tropical storm warning was in effect for the coast of Colombia, and a hurricane watch, which means hurricane conditions are possible within 48 hours, was in effect for San Andrés and Providencia, and for another Colombian island, Santa Catalina.
Heavy rainfall could set off flash flooding and mudslides in parts of Central America, which could get five to 10 inches of rain, and up to 15 inches in isolated areas, the Hurricane Center said.