Meteorologists at the US-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) say that while the remnants of tropical depressions Peter and Rose are expected to further deteriorate, a new storm is likely to threaten sections of the Lesser Antilles this weekend.

The NHC, in a 5:00 pm Atlantic Standard Time (AST) bulletin, said that Tropical Depression 18 may emerge as Tropical Storm Sam by as early as tomorrow.

Satellite imagery pinpoints the centre of Tropical Depression 18 near latitude 10.1 North, longitude 33.9 West as at 5:00 pm AST.

The slowly growing system is 3,265 kilometres east-southeast of the northern Leeward Islands; moving at 24 kilometres/hour and packs maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometres/hour, with higher gusts.

“Strengthening is forecast over the next several days. The depression is forecast to become a tropical storm by tomorrow, and could be near hurricane intensity by the weekend,” the hurricane watchdog advised.

Projections by the NHC anticipate Tropical Depression 18 to roar into major hurricane intensity by mid-afternoon on Monday.

In the meantime, the remnants of tropical depressions Peter and Rose are struggling to maintain any momentum as weather sleuths expect both disturbances to return to low-pressure waves in the coming days.

Neither systems are a direct threat to land in the Caribbean, with the centre of Peter being closest at 350 kilometres north of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Gradual weakening is expected during the next couple of days, and Peter is forecast to degenerate into a remnant low tonight or tomorrow.

Tropical Depression Rose is considerably much farther away at over 1,920 kilometres west-northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands.