Tropical depression off east coast of Nicaragua

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - A tropical depression off Honduras' Caribbean coast is nearing tropical storm strength.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami says the depression's maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph.

The hurricane center expects the depression to track slowly northwest and then north across the Caribbean through Friday.

The depression is expected to bring 2 to 3 inches of rain over eastern Honduras and northeastern Nicaragua with isolated totals of 6 inches possible. Honduras and Nicaragua have issued tropical storm watches.

At 10 p.m. EST Wednesday, the depression's center was about 90 miles east-southeast of the Nicaragua-Honduras border.

Heavy rains and flooding have killed more than 30 people in recent weeks and left 16 people missing.

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