A tropical depression could form in the Gulf of Mexico this weekend, according to forecasters.

The National Hurricane Center was also tracking Tropical Storm Franklin in the western Atlantic, which could strengthen into a hurricane this weekend and move between the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda, and two other tropical waves.

Here’s the latest on the system expected to affect the Gulf: The hurricane center was tracking an area of disturbed weather in the northwest Caribbean near Central America on Friday morning. Forecasters think it will head northward and into the eastern Gulf this weekend.

Conditions in the Gulf could be favorable for it to strengthen into a depression by late this weekend or early next week.

There is no clear consensus on where it could go after that, but the hurricane center’s tropical outlook indicates it could turn toward Florida. That could change, however, so those along the northern and eastern Gulf Coast should remain alert and make sure they have their storm supplies stocked and ready to go.

The National Weather Service in Mobile continued to watch the Gulf and said Friday morning that most of the computer forecast models shift the system east of Alabama for now. However, forecasters added that trends will continue to be watched very carefully over the next few days.

Right now, the biggest effect the disturbance could have on Alabama’s coastline is an increased risk for rip currents that could happen during the middle of next week.

The hurricane center also was watching Tropical Storm Franklin, which was steady in strength on Friday but could strengthen into a hurricane this weekend.

Franklin was well east of the Bahamas on Friday morning and headed northward. It is forecast to track between the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda next week. Right now it’s not expected to directly impact the U.S.

As of the last update, at 4 a.m. CDT Friday, Tropical Storm Franklin was located about 690 miles south-southwest of Bermuda and was moving east-northeast at 6 mph.

Franklin had sustained winds of 60 mph, unchanged from Thursday. However, the hurricane center said gradual strengthening is expected and Franklin will likely become a hurricane over the weekend.

There were no watches or warnings in effect for Franklin, which is forecast to be in the picture through next week.

The hurricane center was also watching two other tropical waves.

The first was what had been Tropical Storm Emily. It was in the central Atlantic as of Friday morning. The hurricane center has downgraded its chances of regenerating into a tropical depression, and it’s not expected to affect land.

The last area to watch was a disturbance south of the former Emily in the central tropical Atlantic, about halfway between the Cabo Verde Islands and the Caribbean. It could become a tropical depression next week as it heads westward, but it is no immediate threat to any land areas.

The Atlantic hurricane season is in what is typically its busiest stretch, with the climatological peak coming on Sept. 10. The last day of the season will be Nov. 30.