The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a tropical wave entering the central Atlantic. The wave is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms.

The system is forecast to become better organized as it moves into a favorable environment for development. The wave has a 40% to 80% chance of developing into a tropical system over the next two to seven days.

According to the latest tropical weather outlook issued by the NHC, a tropical depression is likely to form by this weekend as the system moves west-northwest. The system is then forecast to pick up speed and reach waters east of the Lesser Antilles by the middle of next week.

If this system becomes a tropical storm, the next name of the season is Gabrielle.

It is far too soon to know for certain where this system will go once it nears the Lesser Antilles.

A stronger system will be influenced by the Bermuda high and remain north of the Antilles and over open waters. A weaker system would maintain a west movement, potentially moving over the Windward Islands and into the Caribbean Sea, or over the mountainous terrain of the Greater Antilles.

The forecast will continue to adjust, and we will have better guidance by this weekend on the eventual track of the system once it becomes a tropical depression with a closed center of circulation. At this time there is no immediate threat to South Florida.