MIAMI (November 4, 2009)—An Air Force plane was en route Wednesday to check out a tropical depression that’s nearing tropical storm strength off the eastern coast of Nicaragua.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for the entire eastern coast of Nicaragua and for the islands of San Andres and Providencia.

The depression’s center was about 75 miles southwest of San Andres Island and about 100 miles east of Bluefields, Nicaragua Wednesday and was moving toward the west-northwest at about 7 miles per hour.

It should be near Nicaragua’s coast Wednesday evening, forecasters said.

Maximum sustained winds Wednesday were near 35 miles per hour, but the depression is expected to reach tropical storm strength later Wednesday afternoon.

The main threat is flooding from heavy rainfall, forecasters said.