NEW YORK (Reuters) - The second tropical depression of the Atlantic hurricane season formed over the far eastern Atlantic Ocean early Tuesday 11 August, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said in a report.

Photo: REUTERS/Carlos Barria

Although it is too soon to predict, on its current forecast track, the system will likely not be of much interest to the U.S. energy and commodities markets since most weather models expect it to remain over the Atlantic and not reach the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico.

The center of the depression was located about 280 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands off the West Coast of Africa.

The depression was moving westward over the open ocean at nearly 13 miles per hour with maximum sustained winds near 30 mph.

The NHC said the depression could strengthen into the first tropical storm (with winds of 39 to 73 mph) of the Atlantic season in a day or two. If the system does reach storm status it would be named Ana.

By this time last year, there were already five named storms in the Atlantic basin.

Most weather models forecast the system would fishhook toward the north and possibly turn back east in a few days, remaining over the Central Atlantic, well clear of any land, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

Energy traders watch for storms that could enter the Gulf of Mexico and threaten U.S. oil and natural gas platforms and refineries along the coast.

Commodities traders likewise watch storms that could hit agriculture crops such as citrus and cotton in Florida and other states along the coast to Texas.

Separately, the NHC is watching two tropical waves - one over the Windward Islands in the Caribbean and one over the Atlantic Ocean about 600 miles east of the Lesser Antilles - but gave both a small chance - less than 30 percent - of developing into a tropical storm over the next 48 hours.

Tropical Depression One formed in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the Carolinas in late May and petered out hundreds of miles north, off the New England coast.

(Reporting by Scott DiSavino; Editing by John Picinich)