MIAMI-
The ninth tropical depression of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season formed Wednesday in the central Atlantic, but it was not expected to become a hurricane or threaten land, forecasters said.
The depression was expected to intensify and was close to tropical storm strength, the National Hurricane Center said.
At 11 p.m. EDT, the depression’s center was located about 745 miles east-southeast of Bermuda and moving toward the northwest near 13 mph. This general motion was expected to continue during the next day, forecasters said.
It had top sustained winds near 35 mph. If the storm’s winds reach 39 mph it would become Tropical Storm Isaac.
The tropical depression was expected to move over cooler waters, which would sap its strength. It does not appear that winds will reach the 74 mph necessary to become a hurricane, meteorologist Daniel Brown said.
The depression was expected to move north and then northeastern over the open Atlantic, away from the United States, Brown said.
The Atlantic hurricane season began June 1 and ends Nov. 30. September is traditionally one of the busiest months of the season.
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