The development potential is increasing for a large area of showers and storms located over the western Caribbean Sea. This system has become much better organized since yesterday, and a tropical depression could form over the next few days as it moves slowly northwest.

The track of this disturbance has shifted westward and it’s now anticipated to move near western Cuba this weekend and slowly across the southeastern Gulf of Mexico by early next week.

Regardless of development, locally heavy rainfall will be possible over portions of the Cayman Islands, Cuba, southern Florida and the Keys, and the northwestern Bahamas through Sunday.

Right now, the National Hurricane Center is giving it a 70% chance of development.

Otherwise, Hurricane Epsilon is moving away from Bermuda. The Category 1 hurricane maintains maximum sustained winds of 85 mph.

Epsilon will continue to generate large swells impacting Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, the Leeward Islands, the United States east coast, and Atlantic Canada through late this weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

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LOCAL FORECAST

Locally, a few showers will be possible Friday, especially in the afternoon and evening. High temperatures will peak above average, in the upper 80s to lower 90s.

Over the weekend, we’re tracking an increase in tropical moisture across Southwest Florida as we monitor the progression of the trough of low pressure in the Caribbean. The Weather Authority expects enhanced rain chances, mainly south of the Caloosahatchee River on Saturday and mainly inland on Sunday.