MIAMI (AP) -- A tropical depression far out in the Atlantic is forecast to become a hurricane this week, but it's too early to know if it'll strike the U.S. or anywhere else.

The new depression is forecast to become Tropical Storm Katia -- the name that replaced Katrina in the rotating storm roster because of the catastrophic damage from the 2005 storm. That could come early Tuesday.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Monday the depression south of the Cape Verde Islands could reach hurricane strength Thursday, still far out in the Atlantic.

Hurricane Center spokesman Dennis Feltgen said it's too early to know if it would hit the U.S.

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