Storm tracker: NHC tracking system that could become Tropical Storm Debby

The National Hurricane Center is tracking a "large tropical wave" that could develop into Tropical Storm Debby later this week.

The wave is centered several hundred miles east of the Leeward Islands, according to the NHC, and is producing "limited shower activity" for now. However, environmental conditions are forecast to become more conducive as the wave moves over warmer water over the next day or two.

If its winds reach 39 mph, the system would receive the name Tropical Storm Debby, and it would be the fourth named storm of what's predicted to be an extremely active 2024 Atlantic hurricane season .

The NHC notes that a tropical depression could form late this week while the system is in the vicinity of the Greater Antilles or the Bahamas. Forecasters currently give the wave a 60% chance of formation through the next seven days.

"Interests in the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas, and the southeastern U.S. should monitor the progress of this system," the NHC said in an advisory Tuesday afternoon.

Jill Trepanier, an associate professor at Louisiana State University , told USA TODAY that "the August-September zone of the Atlantic season is the most active period. We're kind of moving into that space where it's most likely, out of the entire time, for us to see more of them develop."

Overall, August, September, and October are usually considered the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, according to Weather.com. This is because water temperatures are often at their warmest, wind shear is at its lowest, and humidity has increased across the basin, all contributing to hurricane formation.

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 ; Doyle Rice, USA TODAY

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: NHC tracking system that could become Tropical Storm Debby