ORLANDO, Fla. – The National Hurricane Center on Thursday highlighted a fifth area on interest, just days away from the peak of hurricane season.
The NHC highlighted an area of low pressure in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico that is bringing showers and thunderstorms near the coasts of Louisiana and Texas. Heavy rainfall is expected in the next day or so, though chances of development are slim.
Four other areas are being monitored for development.
A tropical wave over the western Caribbean is expected to reach Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula early Friday and could develop later this weekend into early next week as it emerges over the Gulf of Mexico. It has a 30% chance of development in the next seven days.
Another tropical wave a few hundred miles east of the Leeward Islands could slowly develop early next week as it moves over the southwestern Atlantic. It has a 10% chance of development in the next seven days.
And an area in the eastern tropical Atlantic could develop in the next several days as it moves northwest or north. It has a 20% chance of development.
East of North Carolina, there is a non-tropical area of low pressure that may acquire subtropical characteristics in the next couple of days as it moves north-northeast and stays offshore of the northeastern U.S. It has a 20% chance of development in the next seven days.
The next named storm will be called Francine.
Sept. 10 marks the peak of hurricane season, which runs through November.
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