Tropical Depression Nine formed in the Bahamas on Saturday, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. The system is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm later this weekend. Tropical storm warnings were issued for the Bahamas as the storm is forecast to intensify. Although a direct Florida landfall is unlikely, the storm is forecast to come close enough to bring wind, rain and storm surge to the Atlantic coast. Tropical Storm Chantal is the only other tropical system to directly impact the U.S. this year, coming ashore in South Carolina as a weak tropical storm in July.