(This story was updated to add new information.)
The National Hurricane Center is tracking three systems in the Atlantic basin, including one that could threaten Florida or the Gulf Coast as early as this weekend, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
Atropical disturbance expected to move into the Gulf of Mexicocould become atropical depressionover the wekeend. Forecasters are advising residents along the Gulf Coast to closely monitor the system, which could bring locally heavy rains over portions of the Florida Peninsula by the weekend.
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Elsewhere in the Atlantic basin is Hurricane Kirk and newly formed Tropical Depression 13. Forecasters said Tropical Depression 13 is expected to become a tropical storm by tonight and could become a hurricane by the weekend.
Kirk is expected to become a major hurricane by Thursday but isn't forecast to pose a threat to Florida or the U.S. A major hurricane is one with sustained winds of at least 111 mph, making it a Category 3, 4 or 5 storm.
Kirk became the third hurricane since Sept. 25 — following Helene and Isaac. It's the first time on record (since 1851) the Atlantic has had three hurricanes between Sept. 25 and Oct. 1, said Dr. Philip Klotzbach, meteorologist at Colorado State University specializing in Atlantic basin seasonal hurricane forecasts.
The next named storms in the Atlantic hurricane season are Leslie and Milton.
What hurricane is coming to Florida?
There is not a hurricane expected to hit land at this time but a tropical depression may form later this week or weekend as a developing system moves from the Caribbean Sea into the Gulf of Mexico.
It's still too early to tell where it'll go or how much it will strengthen, but residents along the entire Gulf Coast have been advised to closely monitor the system and to be prepared.
AccuWeather warnedFlorida "may be the prime target"for any budding system next week.
Here's the latest update from the National Hurricane Center as of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2:
Hurricane Kirk: What you should know
- Location: 1,165 miles east-northeast of the Lesser Antilles
- Maximum sustained winds: 90 mph
- Movement: northwest at 12 mph
➤Spaghetti models for Hurricane Kirk
At 5 p.m., EDT, the center of Hurricane Kirk was located near latitude 18.9 North, longitude 44.0 West.
Kirk is moving toward the northwest near 12 mph and this general motion is expected over the day or so with a gradual turn more to the north-northwest and northward by this weekend.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 90 mph with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast over the next several days and Kirk is expected to become a major hurricane tomorrow. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 220 miles.
Swells generated by Kirk are beginning to spread outward and could affect portions of Leeward Islands and Bermuda by this weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
Tropical Depression 13 expected to become hurricane soon. What to know
- Location: 465 miles southwest of Cabo Verde Islands
- Maximum sustained winds: 35 mph
- Movement: west at 7 mph
➤Spaghetti models for Tropical Depression 13
At 5 p.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Depression Thirteen was located near latitude 10.5 North, longitude 29.7 West.
The depression is moving toward the west near 7 mph and this motion is expected to continue with a gradual turn west-northwestward over the next couple of days.
Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts.
Strengthening is forecast during the next several days and the depression could become a hurricane by the end of the week.
What else is out there and how likely are they to strengthen?
Northwestern Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico: A broad trough of low pressure is producing disorganized areas ofshowers and thunderstorms over the northwestern Caribbean Sea and the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.
Environmental conditions could support some gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression could form over the weekend as the broader disturbance moves fully into the Gulf of Mexico.
Residents along the U.S. Gulf Coast should continue to monitor the progress of this system.
Regardless of development, locally heavy rains could occur over portions of Mexico during the next several days and over portions of the Florida Peninsula by the weekend.
- Formation chance through 48 hours: low, near 0 percent.
- Formation chance through 7 days: medium, 40 percent.
What do the colored areas on the NOAA map mean?
The hatched areas on a tropical outlook map indicate "areas where a tropical cyclone — which could be a tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane — could develop," said National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome.
The colors make it visibly clear how likely a system could develop with yellow being low, orange medium and red high.
The National Hurricane Center generally doesn't issue tropical advisories until there is a named storm, but there is an exception.
"If a system is near land and there is potential for development, the National Hurricane Center won't wait before it issues advisories, even if the system hasn't become an actual storm. This gives residents time to prepare," Rhome said.
Who is likely to be impacted?
Hurricane Kirk is expected to stay in the central Atlantic and is not expected to pose a threat to Florida or the U.S. Swells generated by Kirk are beginning to spread outward and could affect affect portions of Leeward Islands and Bermuda by this weekend.
All residents along the Gulf Coast, including Florida, should watch the system showing potential for development in the Caribbean. It's still too early to determine size, strength or direction but "a second potential threat to the Gulf Coast is unfortunately plausible in the upcoming week," according to Dr. Ryan Truchelut, chief meteorologist with WeatherTiger. Truchelut is a Florida meteorologist who works with the USA TODAY Network.
Invest 91L is still too far from the U.S. to determine whether there will be any impacts.
Forecasters urge all residents to continuemonitoring the tropics and to always be prepared. That advice is particularly important for what is expected to be a very active hurricane season.
Weather watches and warnings issued in Florida
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When is hurricane season over?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
The Atlantic basin includes the northern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.
When is the peak of hurricane season?
The peak of the season was Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.
National Hurricane Center map: What are forecasters watching now?
Systems currently being monitored by the National Hurricane Center include:
Interactive map: Hurricanes, tropical storms that have passed near your city
Excessive rainfall forecast
What's next?
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(This story was updated to add new information.)