The fourth tropical depression of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season formed on Monday in the far eastern Atlantic and was expected to become Tropical Storm Debby as it approached the southernmost Cape Verde islands. By 5 p.m. (2100 GMT), the depression was about 250 miles (405 km) southeast of the islands, and moving toward the west-northwest at 12 miles (19 km) per hour, the Miami-based US National Hurricane Center said.

It was too early to predict whether the weather system would eventually reach the Gulf of Mexico or the US East coast, both battered last year by a record hurricane season that produced 28 storms, including Hurricane Katrina. Oil traders, wary of storms since hurricanes ripped through oil and gas platforms in the Gulf in 2004 and 2005, said they were keeping an eye on the depression.

The hurricane center said the government of the Cape Verde islands had issued a tropical storm warning as the depressions maximum sustained winds reached 35 mph (55 kph). Once it reaches 39 mph (63 kph), the system will be categorized as a tropical storm and be given a name, Debby. That was expected to occur within the next 24 hours, the hurricane center said.

The 2006 Atlantic hurricane season has been quiet to date. So far, only three tropical storms have formed -- Alberto, Beryl and Chris. Strong wind shear -- the difference in wind speed and direction at different levels of the atmosphere -- has disrupted some of the tropical weather systems that eventually become cyclones.

In comparison, nine storms developed by Aug. 7 last year. Last year Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans after coming ashore in Louisiana on Aug. 29, killing around 1,300 people and Hurricane Wilma, later in the season, at one point became the strongest Atlantic storm on record.

Hurricane experts say it is not unusual for the first two or three months of the June 1 to Nov. 30 storm season to see little activity. The worst part of the season is usually between mid-August and late October.
(Planet ark, 22/08/2006)