A week after

being battered by rains from Eta, another tropical depression – to be named Iota

– has formed to the south of Jamaica.

It is

understood that the system, which has been dubbed Tropical Depression 31, formed

in the central Caribbean Sea on Friday morning. It is expected to become a

hurricane by early next week.

At 10 a.m.

Friday morning, the depression had winds of 35 mph and was located about 310

miles south-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica.

“On the

forecast track, the system will move across the central Caribbean Sea during

the next day or so, and approach the coasts of Nicaragua and northeastern

Honduras late Sunday and Monday,” forecasters said on Friday.

“The depression

is forecast to strengthen into a tropical storm later today or tonight.

Additional strengthening is likely over the weekend, and the system could be

near major hurricane strength when it approaches Central America.”

It is

expected that hurricane watches will be posted for some countries in Central America

by Friday night.