Southwest Florida could face a potential hurricane or tropical storm early next week, according to recent projections from the National Hurricane Center.

Tropical Depression 13 is on its way towards south Florida and, as of 5 p.m. Thursday, was located 615 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands, moving at 21 mph west-northwest with sustained maximum winds of 35 mph.

Thursday’s 5 p.m. update showed Tropical Depression 13 did not strengthen from 2 to 5 p.m., but long-range projections show the possibility of the storm turning into a hurricane approaching south Florida and moving towards Florida’s west coast early Monday into Tuesday.

“The details of the long-range track and intensity forecasts are more uncertain than usual since the system could move over portions of the Greater Antilles this weekend,” according to NHC. “However, this system could bring some storm surge, rainfall and wind impacts to portions of Hispaniola, Cuba, the Bahamas, and Florida this weekend and early next week.”

Tropical Depression 13 is not alone out in the Gulf, as Tropical Depression 14 formed Thursday and has a projection of impacting Texas and/or Louisiana as a Tropical Storm around the same time 13 is expected to reach Florida.

If either is to upgrade, they would be named Laura and Marco respectively, and the earliest 12th and 13th named storm in any Atlantic hurricane season.

In a release issued Thursday, Lee County Public Safety – Emergency Management Division announced it is actively monitoring the tropics and is prepared to respond if needed.

“Responding to and recovering from a disaster is truly a whole community effort and is everyone’s responsibility,” said Lee Mayfield, director of Lee County Public Safety — Emergency Management, in a statement. “At Lee County Public Safety we ask that you and your family do your part by creating a ‘Culture of Preparedness’ at home, and share this information with your friends and neighbors.”

According to county officials, if hurricane shelters are needed, protective measures will be taken to include spacing/social distancing, PPE (masks and hand sanitizer), additional cleaning and possible screening questions at registration to determine if an individual is ill. The county reiterated the encouragement of the public to have a plan to shelter with friends and family or in a hotel or motel outside of the announced evacuation zone(s) and use public shelters as an option of last resort.

Additional information is available at www.leegov.com/hurricane. County residents can also use mobile app “Lee Prepares” for real time information, emergency supply lists and more.

Residents can also sign up for the county’s emergency notification system that allows registered users to receive telephone, text, and/or email alerts related to natural or man-made emergencies called “Alert Lee.” To sign up, visit AlertLee.com.

–Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj