A tropical depression that could develop into the first hurricane of the season has formed in the Atlantic and is headed toward the Caribbean, US forecasters warned Tuesday.

Tropical Depression Four -- located some 1,665 miles (2,675 kilometers) east of the Windward Islands at 1500 GMT -- was expected to strengthen into a tropical storm dubbed Danny within hours, the National Hurricane Center said.

According to projections by the Miami-based forecasters, the system could develop further and become a hurricane by Friday.

Currently no coastal watches or warnings are in effect.    

Experts said earlier this month that there was a 90 percent chance the 2015 hurricane season in the Atlantic, which runs from June through November, will be less active than normal.