JACKSON — A tropical disturbance is rapidly forming into a more organized storm and has the potential to become a tropical cyclone in the next few days. This disturbance is located in the southern Gulf of Mexico near the Yucatan Peninsula.

According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, this disturbance has an 80 precent chance of tropical formation in the next 48 hours and a 90 percent chance of formation in the next 7 days. If it does become a named storm it would be named Helene.

NHC issued a public advisory on “Potential Tropical Cyclone 9,” Monday morning at 10 a.m. The storm is forecast to strengthen in the coming days and already has a sustained wind speed of 30 mph. Wind much reach sustained speeds of 38 mph to become a tropical depression and 39 to 73 mph to become a tropical storm.

It could take a few days for the weather impacts of this potential tropical cyclone to be forecast for Mississippi. Early forecast models show the cone of the storm going up through the gulf to the panhandle of Florida and eastern Alabama.

There is an increased chance of rain this week already in the forecast.

According to the National Weather Service in Jackson, there is a 20 percent chance of rain Tuesday night, a 60 percent chance of rain Wednesday and a 40 percent chance of rain Thursday. Temperatures will also start to cool off following Tuesday with highs in the mid 80s and lows getting down to the 60s.

Wind speeds will remain fairly calm with relative humidity reaching a low of 45 percent Monday. Fire risk conditions remain low although people should continue to be careful if they do burn. Check the weather before and during the time you burn, have a fire break of bare mineral dirt around your fire, keep an eye on your fire and have water on hand to control it if it does get out.

People should also secure trailer chains on the roadways and be sure to dispose of cigarette butts properly and not on the ground. One spark is all it takes to start a wildfire. 9 out of 10 wildfires are caused by human error.