The National Hurricane Center is increasing the chance of tropical development in the Gulf of Mexico over the next five days.
As of Wednesday morning, the area of widespread showers and thunderstorms stretched across the southeastern Bahamas into the southwestern Atlantic.
"Limited development of this system is anticipated today or tomorrow, however conditions are forecast to become a little more favorable for development over the weekend, and a tropical depression could form as the disturbance moves slowly toward the west-northwest across the Florida Straits or South Florida and over the eastern Gulf of Mexico," read a tropical weather outlook from the NHC, which put long-range development chances at 60%.
"Regardless of development, this disturbance could produce periods of locally heavy rainfall and gusty winds across the Bahamas through Thursday, and across Florida during the weekend," the outlook added.
Forecasters are also watching two other areas of interest. One is a tropical wave near the Lesser Antilles is expected to move into unfavorable conditions for further development. The other is a tropical wave between the Cabo Verde Islands and the coast of Africa that is expected to move quickly westward and could see some slow development over the next five days.
Photos: NOAA