NHC tracking possible tropical development off southeastern U.S. coast

A low pressure area is expected to form off the southeastern coast of the United States early next week, with a low chance of tropical development as it moves slowly westward, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The system is expected to develop along the western end of a frontal boundary offshore of the Southeast. The hurricane center said slow development will be possible after the low forms, though the chance of formation remains low.

As of 2 p.m. ET Saturday, forecasters gave the system a near-zero chance of developing during the next 48 hours and a 20 percent chance of becoming a tropical depression or storm during the next seven days.

A map released by the hurricane center showed the area being monitored off the coasts of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, extending over the western Atlantic north of the Bahamas.

No watches or warnings have been issued, and the hurricane center did not provide details about possible impacts. The system’s slow westward movement will be monitored in the coming days.

If the system were to become a tropical storm, it would be named Bertha. It would be the second named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, after Tropical Storm Arthur formed earlier this month in the Gulf and brought heavy flooding to Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.