All eyes are on a tropical depression in the Caribbean which will become a tropical storm, trigger life-threatening flooding rain in Central America and is forecast to track into Florida next week.

A batch of showers and thunderstorms over the central Caribbean was designated by AccuWeather meteorologists as a tropical rainstorm earlier this week and is forecast to become a tropical storm later this week. The tropical rainstorm was upgraded to Tropical Depression Nineteen early Thursday morning, which is one step below a tropical storm.

Because the center has formed close to land in Central America, it will likely track over land relatively soon. Land proximity was a concern with the depression for strengthening early on. If the center is able to remain offshore of Nicaragua and Honduras for a couple of days, it could still reach hurricane intensity. But because of the proximity to land, rapid strengthening to a major hurricane now seems unlikely. However, the consequences of spending days near or over land can unleash torrential rainfall and a significant risk of a flash flooding and mudslide disaster in the northern parts of Honduras and Nicaragua.

Should the feature survive its passage over Central America and southeastern Mexico, Floridians may have to brace for yet another strike this season as the strengthening tropical depression could track into the Gulf of Mexico and turn toward the Sunshine State next week.

AccuWeather meteorologists designated the showers and thunderstorms over the Caribbean as a tropical rainstorm on Tuesday evening. This gives residents and visitors in the potential threat zone ample time to prepare for a tropical threat ahead of any official watches and warnings that might be issued by the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

On Wednesday afternoon, the NHC designated the tropical rainstorm as Potential Tropical Cyclone 19. A tropical storm watch was issued for northeastern Nicaragua and a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch were issued for Honduras. Potential Tropical Cyclone was upgraded to Tropical Depression 19 on Thursday morning.

Continue reading at AccuWeather

For more on hurricane season and the utility industry, see how Duke Energy is strengthening the grid,  ask yourself if you are making these heat related illness mistakes, and make sure you are stocked up on the must haves for storm season.