Hurricane center tracks 2 new Atlantic systems that could develop

Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel on Aug 9, 2026

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The National Hurricane Center on Sunday continued to forecast chances that two Atlantic systems could develop into the season’s next tropical depression or storm.

As of the NHC’s 8 a.m. tropical outlook, the more likely of the two was a tropical wave expected to move off the west coast of Africa into the eastern tropical Atlantic early this week.

“Environmental conditions are forecast to be conducive for gradual development thereafter and a tropical depression could form during the latter half of this week while the system moves generally westward across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic,” forecasters said.

The NHC gives it a 40% chance to develop in the next seven days.

Already in the central tropical Atlantic is a broad area of disturbed weather associated with a tropical wave located a few hundred miles southwest of the Cape Verde Islands.

“Some gradual development of this system is possible during the early to middle part of this week while it moves westward across the central tropical Atlantic,” forecasters said. “Upper-level winds are expected to become less conducive for development later in the week when the system approaches the Lesser Antilles.”

The NHC gives it a 20% chance to develop in the next seven days.

The NHC began tracking the two systems on Saturday.

So far the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1 and runs through Nov. 30, has been slow, with only two named systems – tropical storms Arthur and Bertha.

The next names on the list are Cristobal and Dolly.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration this past week updated its seasonal forecast stating it expects between seven and 13 named storms this year. Of those, two to six would become hurricanes, and a prediction that there might not be any major hurricanes this year, or at most two.

Already 2026 was predicted to have lower than average storm generation, and that has been reduced even further with the latest forecasts from the NOAA and other weather groups.

An average year would see 14 named storms and seven hurricanes, with three of those growing to Category 3 strength or higher.

The height of hurricane season, though, has yet to begin, with it running between mid-August and mid-October.

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