Tropical Depression 5 forms; likely to be Ernesto soon

After a quiet few weeks in the tropics, things are beginning to heat up. Meteorologists are watching several areas, including one cluster of storms that could become Tropical Storm Ernesto.

That system, upgraded to Tropical Depression 5 by the National Hurricane Center late this afternoon, is the closest to North America. But it's not going to be threatening the U.S. anytime soon.

"It's really, really far to the south and most of the computer guidance is keeping it south and bringing it into the eastern Caribbean," FOX 13's Dave Osterberg explained this morning. "At that point, it's got to hit somebody because there's no way out."

As of the 5 p.m. update, the system had winds of 35 mph and was moving west-northwest at 18 mph. Forecasters expect it to reach tropical storm strength within the next day.

The other tropical waves are far out in the Atlantic.

LINK: Track the tropics on www.myfoxhurricane.com.