Tropical Storm Josephine is chugging along through the middle of the ocean. Over the next day, the atmospheric environment is forecast to be just conducive enough that Josephine could become a slightly stronger tropical storm. The computer forecast models and the National Hurricane Center forecast track Josephine far enough away from the islands that only fringe effects are expected. Elsewhere, the National Hurricane Center is taking note of a non-tropical low-pressure system near the border of North Carolina and Virginia. Much was made of the fact that Josephine was the earliest-forming J storm in the record book.

Fla. It took a little longer than forecasters expected, but Tropical Storm Josephine has formed, becoming the earliest J storm in Atlantic history. At 11 a.m. it was about 975 miles east-southeast of the northern Leeward Islands packing maximum sustained winds of 45 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Some additional strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours.Forecasters say that the tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles to the north of Josephines center. There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect at this point, but the Leeward Islands are being instructed to monitor the progress of the storm. The earliest J storm before Josephine was Jose, which formed on Aug. 22, 2005.

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. The disturbance in the Atlantic has developed into a tropical depression, and forecasters at the National Hurricane Center say it is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm by Wednesday night. If that happens, it will be Tropical Storm Josephine and become the earliest J storm in history. Located about 1,450 miles east of the Lesser Antilles, whats now being called Tropical Depression Eleven has maximum sustained winds of 35 mph as it moves west at 16 mph. This general motion is expected to continue through Wednesday, the Miami-based Hurricane Center said in a 5 p.m. advisory. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and the depression is expected to become a tropical storm by Wednesday night.So, will it be a threat to Florida?