The Atlantic hurricane season continues to sputter along and is over halfway done. So far, the number of storms (seven) is slightly below average.

The chances that a new named storm could form in the Caribbean and drift into the Gulf of Mexico next week are growing. As of Thursday afternoon, the hurricane center upped the possibility of strengthening to 40% within the next seven days, with no chance within the next two days.

We are continuing to watch an area of low pressure that will try to develop this weekend or early next week in the northwest Caribbean. The National Hurricane Center says some slow development of this system is possible over the western and northwestern Caribbean Sea.