Tropical Depression Seventeen formed well east of the Leeward Islands on Sunday night.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Depression Seventeen was located at latitude 17.0°N and longitude 41.5°W which put it about 1475 miles (2290 km) east of the Northern Leeward Islands.  The depression was moving toward the west at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1006 mb.

The circulation around a large low pressure system over the tropical Atlantic Ocean east of the Leeward Islands exhibited more organization on Sunday night and the National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Depression Seventeen.  The circulation around the depression was still organizing.  There was a broad center of rotation in the middle of the circulation.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving the broad center.  The strongest thunderstorms were in bands on the eastern side of the depression.  Storms in bands around the broad center began to generate upper level divergence which pumped mass away from the depression.

Tropical Depression Seventeen will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next day or two.  The depression will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 27°C.  It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  The large size of the tropical depression and the broad center of circulation will limit the rate at which the depression intensifies.  Tropical Depression Seventeen is likely to strengthen into a tropical storm on Monday.

Tropical Depression Seventeen will move south of a subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean.  The high will steer the depression slowly toward the west during the next day or two.  There is a large circulation around a strong tropical wave to the east of Tropical Depression Seventeen.  It is possible that the tropical wave strengthens into a tropical cyclone.  If that happens, then the large circulation could pull the depression back to the east or at least retard its movement toward the west.  On its anticipated track the tropical depression could be northeast of the Leeward islands in a few days.