Parts of Florida could be facing tropical storm watches — or warnings — today, according to forecasters.

The National Hurricane Center on Friday continued to track a tropical disturbance near Cuba that is expected to become a tropical depression over the weekend.

The hurricane center is forecasting the system to move into the eastern Gulf of Mexico, where it could become Tropical Storm Debby as it heads northward, likely toward Florida.

Tropical storm watches or warnings could be issued for parts of the Sunshine State later today.

The hurricane center said a NOAA Hurricane Hunter reconnaissance aircraft is scheduled to take a closer look at the system today.

The tropical wave was spreading rain and storms across parts of eastern Cuba, the Bahamas and Jamaica on Friday, but it was not very well organized, according to the hurricane center.

It is expected to track across Cuba today and move into the Straits of Florida tonight or on Saturday.

Once it gets into those warm waters it could organize into a tropical depression in the eastern Gulf, possibly near the Florida Peninsula.

Because the system is still unorganized and doesn’t have a defined center of circulation there is still uncertainty about where it could go and how strong it could be.

More certain is that it will cause heavy rain and flash flooding across parts of Florida, Cuba and the Bahamas this weekend.

What does this mean for Alabama?

The National Weather Service in Mobile continued to keep a close eye on the system on Friday. Forecasters noted that the forecast for the system was trending more to the east, which would reduce any effects for Alabama’s coastal areas.

However, the system could still cause rip currents and rough surf for Alabama coastal areas early next week, the weather service said.

Weather service forecasters noted that “some uncertainty will likely remain until the system actually forms a true center on Saturday, but overall trends have increased confidence in a forecast outcome.”

However, forecasters urged those along the coast to keep a close eye on the forecast this weekend.

There have been three named storms so far in 2024 in the Atlantic. Two, Alberto and Chris, were tropical storms that made landfall in Mexico.

There has been one hurricane, Beryl, which had three landfalls, one in the Caribbean, one on the Yucatan Peninsula and one in Texas. Beryl was a Category 1 hurricane when it hit Texas in early July but was briefly a Category 5 monster when it moved through the Caribbean.

The Atlantic hurricane season is now in what is typically its busiest stretch. The season will officially end on Nov. 30.