MIAMI -- The National Hurricane Center says a tropical depression has formed off the coast of Costa Rica, just days before the Atlantic Hurricane Season officially begins.

Senior hurricane specialist James Franklin says the depression is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm within the next 24 hours as it approaches the coast of Nicaragua. The depression had winds of 50 km/h and was moving north at five km/h. Forecasters say it was located 169 km/h west-northwest of Cabo Blanco.

Franklin says the depression will primarily bring heavy rains rather than strong winds.

The hurricane season begins June 1.