MIDWAY, Fla. (WTXL) -- Tropical Depression Nine, located over 1,000 miles east of the Lesser Antilles, remains a highly unorganized system, struggling to maintain its status as a depression later Thursday afternoon. Regardless of the future form or strength of this depression, it will remain safely away from any major landmasses through the weekend as it move north or northeast. Upper winds and dry air will remain near the system, keeping it from reaching a stronger level.
Another disturbance to the southeast of the tropical depression continues to show moderately higher chances for development, but the same elements of upper-level winds and a lack of available moisture will likely keep this system from reaching higher levels of strength as it remains over the open Atlantic.
Lastly, and a little closer to the Big Bend region ... the broad stretch of moisture in the eastern Gulf has a faint low-pressure circulation attached to it. Most indications show the low not gathering much organization in the next 24 hours and very limited chances for formation into a depression. The low will likely move northeast through the Florida peninsula Friday and Saturday, relocating itself in the western Atlantic over the rest of the weekend. Chances for development from that point forward are low to medium. However, the system will likely continue on a northwesterly track in the western Atlantic next week.
