A tropical depression formed Saturday afternoon in the Atlantic Ocean and is forecast to strengthen into a tropical storm before hitting the southeast U.S. coast early next week, according to the National Hurricane Forecasters.

Tropical Depression Nine will be named Imelda once it becomes a tropical storm, which is expected tonight or early Sunday. It isn't expected to threaten Louisiana.

Eastern Cuba and the Bahamas are seeing heavy rains from the depression, which will potentially bring flash flooding and mudslides, forecasters said.

As of 4 p.m., the depression was about 200 miles northwest of Cuba's eastern tip, moving northwest at 5 mph. It has winds of 35 mph, and additional strengthening is expected, forecasters said.

The central and northwestern Bahamas are under a Tropical St

See Full Page