A possible tropical storm is around 400 miles off the shores of North Carolina.
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Winds could become gusty over the next 36 hours, though the storm is not expected to strengthen beyond a sustained wind of 45 mph.
Forecasters expect the tropical depression to strengthen slightly as is approaches the North Carolina coast, though it is not expected to reach hurricane strength before it merges with a coast front and dissipates within three days.
There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect early Sunday.
Models do not agree well after Tuesday about the direction of Nine’s track and track confidence is not high at this point.
“As Tropical Depression Nine moves farther away from Cuba, it will be moving into an area more favorable for strengthening”, according to AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.
Separately, Hurricane Gaston has become the season’s first major hurricane as it continues northwestward in the Atlantic, but forecasters say it poses no threat to land.
Tropical Depression 9 is moving into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.
The Climate Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) initially estimated the Atlantic would see between 10 and 16 storms this year, but recently updated its prediction to 17.
Storm trackers officially upgraded Invest # 99L to Tropical Depression # 9 at 4 pm CDT Sunday.
Forecasters say Gaston should slow down during the next day or so and turn northward on Monday.
Hurricane hunters after flying through the storm Sunday afternoon found a well-defined center and an increase in convection around the storm with winds at 35 miles per hour.
Gaston has hurricane-force winds of 25 miles from its center and also has tropical-storm-force winds of 140 miles from its center.
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As the forecast path from the National Hurricane Center shows, this system will track to near the Outer Banks of North Carolina by Tuesday.
