Potential tropical development near Bahamas could impact southeast US late week

National Weather Service has flagged two areas that have a chance of becoming a tropical depression.

A tropical depression is a low-pressure area in the center of a group of thunderstorms. Depressions are numbered by the National Hurricane Center.

Southwestern Atlantic Ocean

There is a low chance of development from June 18-20 in the western Atlantic Ocean, near the Bahamas. If the development of this system were to occur, it could track into the southeastern United States by late this week.

NWS said environmental conditions could be conducive to some development of this system while it moves westward or west-northwestward. The system is forecast to approach the coast of the southeast United States on Thursday or Friday.

According to ABC11 meteorologist Steve Stewart, it will likely not impact North Carolina, but we could see some tropical moisture get funneled into the Carolinas late in the week.

Southwestern Gulf of Mexico

A tropical rainstorm currently over the Yucatan Peninsula was expected to move over the Bay of Campeche on Monday night.

The rainstorm will eventually move near northeastern Mexico and South Texas during the middle of this week.

This is likely to intensify into a tropical storm before making landfall. Heavy rainfall and strong winds can cause damage to structures, bring down trees and power lines and cause dangerous flooding, especially in the mountains of Mexico.

There is also a low chance for development from June 21-23 across the western Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. This system will need to be watched for possible impacts on the Gulf coasts of the United States and Mexico next weekend.

The historical average date of the first named storm in the Atlantic basin is June 20.

Difference between hurricanes, tropical storms and tropical depressions

Once a depression sustains wind over 39 mph, it is called a tropical storm.

If a storm develops strong rotation, and the wind speeds exceed 74 mph, we have a hurricane. Hurricanes are classified from categories 1 to 5.

The Associated Press contributed.