Hurricane Julia likely to form in southern Caribbean in next few days

The season’s next named storm is likely to form soon over the southern Caribbean, National Hurricane Center forecasters said Thursday.

Tropical Storm, and then Hurricane, Julia is expected to form from Potential Tropical Cyclone 13 approaching the southern Caribbean, a path that would be generally similar to the initial formation of Hurricane Ian.

While Ian turned north toward the Gulf and then headed toward Florida’s Gulf coast, this potential storm is expected to pose a threat to areas of South and Central America.

A hurricane watch was in place Thursday evening for several islands near Colombia. A tropical storm warning was in place Thursday for the coast of Colombia from the Colombia/Venezuela border westward to Riohacha, located in northwestern Colombia.

The disturbance was moving west at 17 mph and is forecast to develop into a tropical depression or Tropical Storm Julia overnight, the hurricane center said in its 8 p.m. update. Forecasters then expect it to become a hurricane by Saturday night near the coast of Nicaragua.

As of 8 p.m., the disturbance was located about 35 miles south-southwest of Curacao. It has maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. Tropical storms form when top winds reach at least 39 mph.

The system will move near the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao and Colombia and Venezuela until Friday morning before moving over the southwestern Caribbean and then approaching Nicaragua on Sunday, the center’s latest advisory said.

After Julia, the next named storm to form would be Karl.

Meanwhile, Tropical Depression 12 had become a post-tropical cyclone by 11 a.m. Thursday. It is not a threat to land and was expected to dissipate overnight.