MIAMI The ninth tropical depression of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season formed Wednesday in the central Atlantic, but it was not expected to become a hurricane or threaten land, forecasters said.

The storm was expected to strengthen and could become a tropical storm in the next day, the National Hurricane Center said.

If the storm's winds reach 39 mph (63 kph) it would become Tropical Storm Isaac.

At 5 p.m. EDT (0900 GMT), the depression's center was located about 810 miles (1,303 kilometers) east-southeast of Bermuda and moving toward the northwest near 14 mph (22.5 kph), forecasters said. It had top sustained winds near 35 mph (56 kph).

The Atlantic hurricane season began June 1 and ends Nov. 30. September is traditionally one of the busiest months of the season.