Category 3 hurricane may make landfall in Florida next week: Forecast

After a slow start to hurricane season, a Category 3 hurricane may make landfall in Florida next week.

The storm, currently known as Tropical Depression 9, is set to move into the warm waters of the Western Caribbean this weekend. Heavy rain, flash flooding and mudslides are possible over the next few days in Aruba, Curaçao, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.

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The storm will likely strengthen to a hurricane by the time it moves across Cuba Monday and Tuesday. It's expected to strengthen further, potentially to a Category 3 hurricane, before approaching Florida late Tuesday into Wednesday.

The current forecast shows the storm making landfall near Fort Myers, Florida, on Wednesday morning; however, the path and timing could change several times over the next few days.

PHOTO: A weather map shows the path of a tropical depression heading north toward Florida, Sept. 23, 2022. (ABC News)
PHOTO: A weather map shows the path of a tropical depression heading north toward Florida, Sept. 23, 2022. (ABC News)

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This would become the fifth hurricane of the season and would be named either Hermine or Ian.

September is the peak month for hurricanes. The season lasts until Nov. 30.

Click here to read tips on how to prepare for a hurricane.

ABC News' Melissa Griffin, Riley Winch and Max Golembo contributed to this report.

Category 3 hurricane may make landfall in Florida next week: Forecast originally appeared on abcnews.go.com