Meteorologists continue to monitor the Gulf for a possible tropical system

A wait-and-see mood continues in the Gulf of Mexico as meteorologists monitor a weather pattern that could develop into a tropical depression by the middle of next week.

Early Saturday, the National Hurricane Center estimated there was a 60 percent chance the system could form within the next seven days. Meteorologists indicated the storm could occur over a wide area, from the south of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula to near the tip of Louisiana.

It's too early to say if Florida will be affected by bad weather. This year's hurricane season has been less active than predicted so far, and against that backdrop, the potential storm has given rise to speculation. But weather models have not yet made any predictions about its future, and all Gulf states are on alert.

“While confidence is increasing that SOMETHING will happen, significant uncertainties remain regarding direction and intensity,” the National Weather Service office in Tampa Bay said early Saturday.

Meteorologists advise Florida residents to check local weather forecasts and make sure they have their hurricane gear ready. If a storm forms in the Gulf, very warm waters could provide the breeding ground for it to spread.

The National Hurricane Center was monitoring several other areas of the Atlantic early Saturday, including the remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon. None of these systems posed a threat to Florida.

Meteorologists have also set their sights on another strip of the map in the eastern Atlantic, where they believe a tropical wave could form next week and move westward. The Hurricane Center estimated that there is a 30 percent chance of this system forming in the next seven days.

In the short term, Tampa Bay is expected to remain relatively dry throughout the weekend. Highs are expected to be just above 35 degrees. There may be isolated rain showers in some areas in the afternoon.

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