MIAMI (BNO NEWS) — Tropical Depression Nine formed over the eastern Atlantic Ocean on late Wednesday morning, forecasters said, but there is no immediate threat to land.

Forecasters at the Miami-based U.S. National Hurricane Center said the tropical depression formed about 1,335 kilometers (830 miles) west-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands, or about 2,770 kilometers (1,720 miles) east of the Lesser Antilles.

Tropical Storm Nine is moving toward the west near 24 kilometer (15 miles) per hour and is expected to move toward the west or west-northwest at a slower forward speed during the next two days. No land is currently threatened.

As of 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) on Wednesday, Nine had maximum sustained winds near 55 kilometers (35 miles) per hour, with higher gusts. “Some strengthening is forecast and it is likely that the cyclone will become a tropical storm during the next 48 hours,” said forecaster Blake.

If Nine does indeed become a tropical storm, it will be named Gaston. The last time a storm was named Gaston was in August 2004 when Hurricane Gaston made landfall in South Carolina. At least 8 people were killed.

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