Storm tracker: Tropical wave in central Atlantic could become tropical depression this week

The National Hurricane Center is tracking a tropical wave in the central Atlantic that it says has a medium chance for development this week.

The NHC said an "area of disturbed weather" near the Leeward Islands and Greater Antilles is "expected to interact with an approaching tropical wave" during the next couple of days, and that "environmental conditions are forecast to become conducive" for some development thereafter. The NHC says there is a 50% chance of formation over the next seven days.

A tropical depression could form mid to late week while the system is near the northern Leeward Islands, Greater Antilles, southwestern Atlantic Ocean or southeastern Bahamas, according to the NHC.

Plumes of dust – made up of sand and particle minerals – from Africa's Sahara Desert and extremely dry air have hindered thunderstorm activity and tropical cyclone formation in the Atlantic over the last month, according to meteorologists. However, activity is expected to pick up at the end of July and early August as the dry and dusty air diminishes and ocean temperatures continue to rise.

"Especially with La Niña starting to develop we're going to be seeing a lot more tropical systems developing here," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alan Reppert told USA TODAY on Sunday. "We did predict that there would be at least some break here until the early part of August when we start to see more chances and more threats for development."

Hurricane season isn't over: Tropical disturbance spotted in Atlantic

Atlantic storm tracker

When is the Atlantic hurricane season?

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.

The peak of the season is Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.

Contributing: Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY Network-Florida

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Storm tracker: Tropical wave in central Atlantic could become tropical depression this week