Tropical depression could form south of Carolinas

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A tropical depression could form about 140 miles south of Cape Fear, North Carolina, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said in a special tropical disturbance statement. At 7:30 a.m. EDT (1130 GMT), the NHC said a small low-pressure system could be forming that has the potential to develop into a tropical depression at any time as it moves north to north-northeastward at 15 to 20 miles per hour. An Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft will investigate the system later this morning to determine if a closed circulation exists at the surface. Earlier this morning in a 5:30 a.m. outlook, the NHC said the low-pressure system continued to bring showers and thunderstorms over portions of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. The system was expected to bring heavy rains and gusty winds northward through the Carolinas over the next day or so. Separately, the NHC said a large tropical wave is located about 800 miles east of the southern Windward Islands (Martinique, Saint Lucia, Barbados, Saint Vincent, The Grenadines, Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago). Thanks to: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060627/us_nm/utilities_nhc_outlook_dc_2