ATLANTA — Severe Weather Team 2 is now following potential Tropical Cyclone Nine in the western Caribbean.

Severe Weather Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Brad Nitz says the system is forecast to track into the eastern Gulf of Mexico, where it will likely strengthen quickly.

“The water is very warm in the eastern Gulf and conditions are ripe for a quickly intensifying system,” Nitz says.

As of 2 p.m., hurricane hunters had flown into the storm to monitor its development.

If a tropical storm or hurricane forms, the storm would become Helene, the eighth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

There are potential impacts on Florida’s Gulf Coast mid-to-late week. Here in Georgia, the impacts would depend on the exact track that the storm takes.

Nitz says for now, expect rain chances to increase throughout the week as a cold front stalls just west of Georgia.