The NBC2 First Alert Hurricane Tracking Team is monitoring a tropical wave in the Caribbean that has a high chance of developing into a tropical system later this week.
As of 7 a.m. Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center puts the odds of tropical development at 80% in the next seven days and 40% in the next two days, a significant jump over the last 24 hours.
Since a storm hasn't yet developed, it is understandably too early to speculate on where a system may track should it form, but it's possible the system could turn north toward the Gulf next week after meandering in the Caribbean for several days.
Sara is the next name on this year's tropical storm and hurricane naming list.
It should be mentioned that as we approach the final weeks of the hurricane season, it does become increasingly difficult for stronger storms to develop or move across the Gulf of Mexico because of stronger wind shear and cooler sea surface temperatures.
However, it's not out of the realm of possibilities for tropical systems to impact land this late in the season, even parts of the U.S.
This will likely be an area to watch over the next several days.
Count on the NBC2 First Alert Hurricane Tracking Team to keep you updated.
______________________________________________________________________
Follow the NBC2 weather team on social media
- Chief Meteorologist Allyson Rae on Facebook and X
- Meteorologist Jason Dunning on Facebook and X
- Meteorologist Rob Duns on Facebook and X
- Meteorologist Lauren Hope on Facebook and X
- Meteorologist Jesslyn Ferentz on Facebook and X
Watch our forecasts on TV or online
