The tropical disturbance that is approaching South Florida has become a tropical depression. At 5 p.m. Monday, the depression was situated 120 miles southeast of West Palm Beach with winds at 30 miles per hour.

The National Hurricane Center made the call based on data that shows that the system now has a defined, organized circulation.

Despite the designation, it is not expected to get very strong, and the worst of the weather will be offshore. But combined with a cold front will push into North Florida by midweek, more gusty thunderstorms are expected over the peninsula over the next few days.

Sometimes, ahead of a cold front, there is a pocket of upper-level winds that is favorable for a tropical disturbance to organize. That’s what happened with this system. The window of favorability will be short, however, and not ideal. Thus, the official National Hurricane Center forecast is for it to stay below Tropical Storm strength, although that’s not guaranteed.

CLICK HERE to have the Bryan Norcross Talks Tropics newsletter delivered to your inbox.

Elsewhere in the tropics, due to dusty air, no tropical development is expected this week.