AccuWeather meteorologists are warning of a growing likelihood of a tropical storm or hurricane impacting the U.S. Gulf Coast next week. Residents, businesses, and officials are urged to prepare and be flexible as a storm could form rapidly and leave little time for tracking and preparation.

The National Hurricane Center is tracking Tropical Storm Gordon and a system off the Florida coast has potential for development.

A large, slowly-spinning system across the northern Caribbean and southern Gulf of Mexico could develop into something serious, forecasters said.