Hurricane forecasters tracking 2 systems, including disturbance heading into Caribbean

Oct. 3—Hurricane forecasters on Monday were tracking two disturbances, including one heading into the Caribbean.

Both could develop into tropical depressions this week, according to the National Hurricane Center.

It's too early to tell if the one heading into the Caribbean could eventually reach the Gulf of Mexico and be a threat to Louisiana. The other disturbance in the Atlantic does not currently pose a threat to the U.S. mainland.

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. The next available name is Julia.

Here's the latest from the National Hurricane Center as of 7 a.m. Monday.

Tropical depression possible

A disturbance heading toward the Caribbean Sea has become "slightly better organized," and forecasters said a tropical depression could form in the next few days.

As of 7 a.m., the tropical wave was several hundred miles east of the southern Windward Islands, and environmental conditions are expected to be favorable for gradual development.

The system is forecast to move west at 15 to 20 mph, reaching the Windward Islands and then the eastern Caribbean Sea by the middle of the week.

It has a 40% chance of developing into a tropical depression within five days.

Disturbance in Atlantic

Forecasters also are tracking a disturbance in the Atlantic that could develop into a tropical depression later this week.

As of 7 a.m., the system was a few hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. It's expected to move west and then northwest by the end of the week.

Conditions are expected to be favorable for gradual development early this week, forecasters said. However, further development is not expected by the end of the week due to environmental conditions.

It has a 70% chance of developing into a tropical depression within five days.

Read the full advisory.

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 nine named storms this season — Alex, Bonnie, Colin, Danielle, Earl, Fiona, Gaston, Hermine and Ian. The next available name is Julia.

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

Storm categories

On the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, the wind categories are:

— Tropical depression — less than 39 mph

— Tropical storm — 39 to 73 mph

— Category 1 hurricane — 74 to 95 mph

— Category 2 hurricane — 96 to 110 mph

— Category 3 hurricane — 111 to 129 mph

— Category 4 hurricane — 130-156 mph

— Category 5 hurricane — 157 mph and higher

What to do now

Now is the time to review hurricane plans and ensure your property is ready for any storm threats. Here are some tips from the National Weather Service:

— 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.

Don't miss a storm update this hurricane season. Sign up for our free Hurricane Center newsletter.

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