Tropical depression could form in Atlantic: NHC

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A low pressure system about 1,400 miles east of the Lesser Antilles may develop into a tropical depression in the central Atlantic sometime Monday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said in a report.

The system was moving west-northwest at 10 to 15 miles per hour.

If it strengthens into a tropical storm, with winds of 39 to 73 mph, the NHC would name it Christobal.

Over the next five days, weather models forecast the system would cross the Lesser Antilles or strike near the Venezuela-Guyana border.

The Lesser Antilles include the Caribbean Islands from the Virgin Islands south to Trinidad and then west to Aruba.

Energy traders watch for storms that could enter the Gulf of Mexico and threaten U.S. oil and gas production facilities.

Commodities traders also watch storms that could hit agriculture crops like citrus and cotton in Florida and other states along the Gulf Coast.

(Reporting by Scott DiSavino; Editing by John Picinich)