Hurricane forecasters tracking 2 disturbances in Atlantic: What to know

Hurricane forecasters on Thursday morning were tracking two disturbances in the Atlantic, with one expected to move into the Caribbean.

It is too early to tell if they could eventually reach the continental U.S.

Related: 5 things to do now to prep for hurricane season

The next available name is Danielle if either strengthens into at least a tropical storm.

Meanwhile, the Gulf of Mexico is expected to be quiet for the next 48 hours, forecasters said.

Here's what we know about the tropics as of 1 p.m. Thursday from the National Hurricane Center.

Disturbance heading for Caribbean

A trough of low pressure was the Windward Islands as of Thursday afternoon, forecasters said. It is expected to move west at 15 mph across the Caribbean during the next several days.

The system is currently disorganized, forecasters said, but environmental conditions could become more conducive for slow development early next week when it moves across the Caribbean.

It has a 20% chance of developing into at least a tropical depression within five days.

The shaded area on the graphic is where a storm could develop and is not a track. The National Hurricane Center releases a track when a tropical depression forms or is about to form.

The categories, in order of increasing strength, are tropical depression, tropical storm and hurricane (categories 1 through 5). Systems are named when they develop into a tropical storm.

Tropical wave by Africa

A tropical wave is between the west coast of Africa and the Cabo Verde Islands and is moving west at 15 to 20 mph, forecasters said.

It has a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms.

Some slow development of this system is possible through early next week, forecasters said. It has a 20% chance of developing into at least a tropical depression within five days.

See the full outlook.

Busiest time of the season

This is historically the busiest time of the Atlantic hurricane season.

In the last 100 years, the tropics have been the most active in August, September and October, with Sept. 10 being the peak of the season, according to federal forecasters. About 80% of the systems that have hit the Gulf Coast formed during this time, according to the National Weather Service in Slidell.

So far, there have been three named storms this season - Alex, Bonnie and Colin.

Hurricane season ends Nov. 30, but storms can form any time.

What to do now

Now is the time to review hurricane plans and make sure your property is ready for hurricane season.

Here are some tips from the National Weather Service for how to prepare for the season:

Put together an emergency kit. Here are 60+ nonperishable items to consider including.Check emergency equipment, such as flashlights, generators and storm shutters.Make a plan with your family or close friends and decide how you will get in touch and where you will go if there's an emergency. Here's how to decide if you should evacuate.Plan your evacuation route and have an alternate route. Here are 15 things to do before evacuating.Make a plan for your pets. Here are some tips.If you have a generator, check it and see if any maintenance needs to be done. Don't forget these important generator safety tips.Do any maintenance you've been putting off on your vehicle.Review your insurance policies.Keep your trees around your home trimmed to prevent damage from broken branches. Here's advice from gardening expert Dan Gill.Have materials in advance to board windows to protect them from flying debris.

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Editor's note: This story has been updated with the 1 p.m. outlook from the National Hurricane Center.