JACKSON — Forecasts by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration changed Friday afternoon. A new tropical disturbance is forecast to impact the Gulf of Mexico in the next week.

The disturbance could develop near the Greater and Lesser Antilles in the Gulf of Mexico according to the National Hurricane Center. The Greater and Lesser Antilles represents two groups of islands in the Caribbean. Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Hati are countries found in the Greater Antilles.

“An area of disturbed weather over the central tropical Atlantic Ocean is expected to interact with an approaching tropical wave
during the next several days. Some development of this system will be possible while it approaches the Lesser Antilles during the early to middle part of next week and moves generally west-northwestward near the Greater Antilles toward the latter part of the week,” the forecast states.

At this time, there is less than a 40 percent chance of a tropical cyclone developing in the forecasted disturbance.

The Daily Leader will continue to monitor hurricane forecasts in the gulf. Hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30 although hurricanes can and have formed outside of the traditional “hurricane season.”

National Hurricane Center states the busiest period for hurricane and tropical storm development is from mid August to mid October.