Tropical depression could form in Gulf Coast this week

Despite a lull in storms, the 2024 hurricane season could be picking back up with a low-pressure area near Texas and Mexico in the Gulf Coast, forecasters said Sunday.

The low pressure area has an 80% chance of forming into a tropical depression in the next 48 hours, while two others have at least a 50% chance of forming in the next seven days, according to the National Hurricane Center.

On Thursday, an NHC's forecast map showed five separate lemon-yellow circles, which could form into storms.

Despite the ocean's pause on tropical storms and hurricanes, experts say that the 2024 season will be busier than normal, but probably won't break any records.

Track the storm

Western Gulf of Mexico

In the Western Gulf of Mexico, a low-pressure area is causing more thunderstorms and showers, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. In the next couple of days, it is forecast to move slowly northwestward and then north, close to the Gulf coast of Mexico and Texas, where it's expected to form into a tropical depression in the middle of the week.

Those along the storm's projected path should monitor the storm closely.

Central Tropical Atlantic

Storms in the "central tropical Atlantic continue to show some signs of organization," according to the hurricane center. A tropical depression could form while the area is over the central tropical Atlantic through Monday.

It is forecast to move toward the west at around 10 mph through the rest of the week.

In the next two days, it will have a 40% chance of forming and a 60% chance in the next seven days.

Eastern and Central Tropical Atlantic:

Another area 100 miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands, which is off the west coast of Africa near the countries Mauritania and Senegal, produced disorganized showers and thunderstorms.

It is expected to move "very little" in the next couple of days and has a 0% chance of forming within 48 hours.

However, it could make contact with a tropical wave, which would make it more likely to form into a tropical depression. The interaction will raise its chances of forming to 50% in the next seven days.

Contributing: Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY; John GallasCheryl McCloud USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida