Hurricane Center monitoring 3 tropical systems as peak of hurricane season approaches

The National Hurricane Center is tracking three disturbances — in the Gulf of Mexico, in the Caribbean Sea and in the eastern Atlantic, according to the 2 p.m. Labor Day update.

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A low pressure system in the Gulf is located off the Texas coast and producing disorganized shower activity. It's expected to move inland early Tuesday, the NHC said.

A tropical wave near the Lesser Antilles is expected to reach the western Caribbean Sea and southwestern Gulf ofMexico late this week and over the weekend. A tropical depression could form during that time. Its progress should be closely monitored by residents in the Gulf of Mexico, Texas and western Florida, AccuWeather forecasters said.

"Conditions are expected to gradually become more favorable for development later this week and as a result this tropical wave will need to be watched closely as we approach the peak of the hurricane season," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said.

A tropical wave off the west coast of Africa is expected to move slowly over the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean. A tropical depression could form in the next few days, according to the NHC.

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Labor Day 2024 unusual when it comes to the tropics

AccuWeather forecasters said Labor Day weekend typically is one of the busiest times in the tropics. The most active period of the Atlantic hurricane season runs from mid-August to mid-October, with the peak arriving Sept. 10.

While there are three disturbances being tracked by forecasters, there are no named storms.

"If no named storms form across the Atlantic waters by Labor Day, Sept. 2, this would mark the first time in 27 years that not a single named tropical storm has developed in the basin between Aug. 21 and Sept. 2," AccuWeather said.

The next named storm of the season will be Francine.

Here's the latest update from the NHC as of  2 p.m., Sept. 2:

What's out there and how likely are they to strengthen?

Gulf of Mexico: A broad and weak area of low pressure just offshore of the middle Texas coast continues to produce some disorganized shower activity along portions of the coast of Texas and over the adjacent waters of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. This system is expected to move inland early Tuesday, and development is not expected. Regardless, heavy rains could cause some flash flooding across portions of the Texas coast during the next day or two.

• Formation chance through 48 hours: low, near 0 percent.
• Formation chance through 7 days: low, near 0 percent

Lesser Antilles and Caribbean Sea: A tropical wave is producing disorganized thunderstorms and gusty winds across portions of the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola and over the adjacent waters. Environmental conditionsare forecast to become more conducive for development when the system reaches the western Caribbean Sea and southwestern Gulf of Mexico late this week and over the weekend, and a tropical depression could form during that time.

• Formation chance through 48 hours: low, near 0 percent.
• Formation chance through seven days: medium, 40 percent.

Eastern Tropical Atlantic Ocean : A tropical wave over the far eastern Atlantic is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions are forecast to become a little more conducive for development, anda tropical depression could form in a few days while the disturbance moves slowly west-northwestward or northwestward over the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean. This system could produce areas of heavy rain and gusty winds across portions of the Cabo Verde Islands in a day or two.

• Formation chance through 48 hours: low, 10 percent.
• Formation chance through seven days: medium, 40 percent.

What do the colored areas on the NOAA map mean?

The hatched areas on a tropical outlook map indicate "areas where a tropical cyclone — which could be a tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane — could develop," said National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome.

The colors make it visibly clear how likely a system could develop with yellow being low, orange medium and red high.

The National Hurricane Center generally doesn't issue tropical advisories until a there is a named storm, but there is an exception.

"If a system is near land and there is potential for development, the National Hurricane Center won't wait before it issues advisories, even if the system hasn't become an actual storm. This gives residents time to prepare," Rhome said.

Who is likely to be impacted?

The disturbance in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico continues to impact Texas. Heavy rains could cause some flash flooding across portions of the Texas coast during the next day or two.

It's too early at this time to determine if there will be any impact to Florida or the U.S. from the other two tropical waves.

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Forecasters urge all residents to continue monitoring the tropics and to always be prepared. That advice is particularly important for what is expected to be a very active hurricane season.

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When is the Atlantic hurricane season?

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

The Atlantic basin includes the northern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.

When is the peak of hurricane season?

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

National Hurricane Center map: What are forecasters watching now?

Systems currently being monitored by the National Hurricane Center include:

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What's next?

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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Hurricane Center monitoring 3 tropical systems as peak of hurricane season approaches