71.   However, this system has the potential of becoming a tropical depression later tonight or Monday.

72.   Hurricane specialist Lixion Avila said Alex may weaken enough by late Friday to be recategorized as a tropical depression.

73.   Hurricane specialists, meanwhile, were monitoring a tropical depression showing signs of development halfway across the central tropical Atlantic.

74.   Hurricane Edouard, and the several tropical depressions behind it, have delayed shipping of merchandise, company spokesman Andy Romeo said Tuesday.

75.   Hurricane specialist Jack Beven said the tropical depression could develop into a tropical storm in the next few days but posed no immediate threat to land.

76.   In Honduras, five people drowned in surging rivers in the northeastern province Olancho after rains from a tropical depression in the Caribbean Sea lashed the Atlantic coast.

77.   In the Honduran capital, floodwaters rose to the third floor of some buildings after Mitch was downgraded to a tropical depression.

78.   Iris was a tropical depression on Thursday that dumped rain and brought gusty winds to St. Vincent and St. Lucia but did no significant damage.

79.   Iris was a tropical depression on Thursday that dumped rain and brought gusty winds to St. Vincent and St. Lucia.

80.   Iris weakened to a tropical depression after crossing Guatemala late Monday night.