There's a new tropical depression in the Atlantic, and it's not far off the East Coast.
The National Hurricane Center began issuing advisories on Friday for Tropical Depression Three, which was located a few hundred miles south-southeast of the North Carolina coast.
It is expected to strengthen into Tropical Storm Chris by Saturday and could become the season's second hurricane next week.
But the official forecast track from the hurricane center keeps the storm safely offshore.
Forecasters said the storm's tropical-storm-force winds should be confined to the east side and well away from the U.S. coast.
"On this basis, no watches or warnings are required for the U.S coast at this time, however, interests along the North Carolina coast should monitor the progress of this system."
As of 10 p.m. CDT Friday, Tropical Depression Three was located 195 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C., and was moving north-northwest at 6 mph.
The depression was maintaining winds of 30 mph, the hurricane center said.
A reconnaissance aircraft will take a closer look at the storm on Saturday.
Where will it go?
The hurricane center anticipates the system to move slowly northwestward and then stall or meander near the North Carolina coast through Monday.
A storm has to have winds of at least 39 mph to be considered a tropical storm and get a name. The next name on the list is Chris.
Waves from the storm are forecast to increase and affect the East Coast from North Carolina into the Mid-Atlantic states this weekend, the hurricane center said. The waves could cause dangerous rip currents as well.
The new depression isn't the only storm in the suddenly-busy Atlantic. The hurricane center was also tracking small Hurricane Beryl in the central Atlantic.
Beryl could affect parts of the Lesser Antilles late this weekend.
Tropical Depression Three, the swirl of clouds off the Southeast coast, is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane next week. (NOAA)