The chance of a tropical system off the coast of Belize becoming at least a tropical depression has increased slightly, according to the 8 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center on Wednesday.
The chance of formation is 60 percent over the next five days, up 10 percent from the hurricane center’s report Tuesday night.
Little development is expected over the next couple of days “because of strong upper-level winds and proximity to the Yucatan Peninsula,’’ according to the update. A depression could form over the eastern or central Gulf of Mexico this weekend.
Whether it becomes a depression or not, locally heavy rainfall is possible for much of Florida and northern Gulf Coast this weekend, the hurricane center said. The chance of rain in Orlando is 70 percent on Saturday and Sunday, according to the National Weather Service in Melbourne.
The next update on the system’s development is expected at 8 Wednesday night.
If the system develops into at least a tropical storm, it would be the first of the 2018 season and would be named Alberto. The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins June 1.
As for Wednesday’s forecast for Orlando, there is a 30 percent chance of rain in the afternoon, the weather service said. The high temperature is expected to be near 88.
