The National Hurricane Center on Sunday increased its forecast chances that a tropical wave in the Atlantic would develop into the season’s next tropical depression or storm.

As of the NHC’s 8 a.m. tropical outlook, the wave in far eastern Atlantic was producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms.

“Although dry and stable air is expected to limit development during the next couple of days, gradual development is anticipated thereafter, and a tropical depression is likely to form during the middle to latter part of this week as the system moves west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph over the central tropical Atlantic,” forecasters said.

The NHC’s forecast area of formation could mean it would threaten pars of the Caribbean.

The NHC gave it a 10% chance to develop in the next two days, but a 70% chance to develop in the next seven days.

If it were to develop into a named storm, it could become Tropical Storm Gabrielle.

September 10 is the climatological peak of the Atlantic hurricane season. It’s been relatively quiet in the tropics lately, but in this video, Senior Hurricane Specialist Brad Reinhart and Hurricane Specialist Andrew Hagen explain how 60% of activity typically occurs after… pic.twitter.com/oJiqxRYnnZ

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 9, 2025

The climatological peak of the Atlantic hurricane season was on Sept. 10. but 60% of annual activity has historically happened after this date, the NHC stated.

So far the season has had only six named storms with the most recent, Tropical Storm Fernand, petering out by the end of August.

Only one of the six storms developed into a hurricane, Hurricane Erin, which grew into a massive Category 5 system with 160 mph winds but remained in the Atlantic without making landfall.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in early August updated its season forecast to call for 13-18 named storms this year, of which five to nine would grow into hurricanes. Two to five of those would develop into major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher.

Hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.

Originally Published: September 14, 2025 at 8:00 AM EDT