The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is closely monitoring a weather system that could develop into a tropical depression in the coming week.

In their latest update, forecasters predict the formation of a broad area of low pressure over the northwestern Caribbean Sea and nearby parts of Central America.

“A broad area of low pressure is likely to form by the early to middle part of next week over the northwestern Caribbean Sea and the adjacent portions of Central America,” the NHC stated.

The agency further explained the potential development path of this system: “Thereafter, gradual development of this system is possible, and a tropical depression could form as the system moves slowly to the north or northwest over the northwestern Caribbean Sea and across the Gulf of Mexico through the end of next week.”

While the immediate risk of development is low, the NHC has assigned a medium probability for tropical formation in the extended forecast. “It has a near-zero chance in the next 48 hours and a medium (60 percent) chance in the next 7 days,” the report indicated.

Regardless of whether the system develops into a tropical depression, it is expected to bring significant rainfall to the region. The NHC warned, “This system is expected to produce heavy rains over portions of Central America during the next several days.”