A tropical storm could be brewing in the Gulf of Mexico, and the Hurricane Hunters are scheduled to go out and take a look today.

The National Hurricane Center has been watching the disturbance, which on Sunday was in the southwestern Gulf, and said that tropical storm watches or warnings could be issued for parts of the western Gulf Coast (Mexico and U.S) later today.

The hurricane center was also tracking two other tropical disturbances, both of those much farther to the east in the central Atlantic Ocean. Both of those have the potential to become tropical depressions this week as well.

The next three names on the 2024 storm list, by the way, are Francine, Gordon and Helene.

WATCHING THE GULF OF MEXICO

The Gulf system is of the most importance to those in the United States as of Sunday.

The hurricane center said the system was generating more rain and storms and had a broad area of low pressure associated with it.

It is expected to drift northward over the next few days, and the hurricane center said a tropical depression is “likely” to form during that time.

The storm will be close to the coasts of Mexico and Texas and could spread rain and wind to those areas this week, forecasters said.

It could affect the Texas and Louisiana coasts later this week, but it’s too soon to say with any certainty how strong it could be.

“Interests along the western and northwestern Gulf Coast should closely monitor the progress of this system. Watches could be required for portions of the western Gulf coast later today or tonight,” the hurricane center said.

The Air Force Reserve’s Hurricane Hunters are scheduled to take a closer look at the storm later today, the hurricane center said.

The National Weather Service in Mobile was watching the system as well. Forecasters said that it could bring rough surf and an increased risk for rip currents to the Alabama coast in the next few days. Rain chances are expected to increase as well.

Those along the Alabama coast were advised to keep a close eye on the forecast over the next few days.

ELSEWHERE IN THE ATLANTIC

There were also two other disturbances being tracked by the hurricane center on Sunday.

The first had an elongated area of low pressure associated with it, and forecasters said it was showing signs of organization on Sunday.

It could become a tropical depression in the next few days as it tracks generally westward.

It is not expected to affect land during that time.

The second disturbance was located several hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands in the far eastern Atlantic and appeared disorganized on Sunday.

The hurricane center doesn’t expect it to move much over the next few days, but then it could merge with a tropical wave that will move off the west coast of Africa.

Once that happens it could organize into a tropical depression, but it may not happen until later this week.

The hurricane center also expects that disturbance to track slowly to the west-northwest.

The climatological peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is Sept. 10, but there have only been five named storms to this point.

The last storm, Ernesto, dissipated on Aug. 20, and it had been quiet until the past few days.

NOAA is still expecting a busy hurricane season by the time it comes to a close on Nov. 30, with 17 to 24 named storms.

The next update on the Gulf system will come early this afternoon.