Five tropical threats emerge as hurricane season intensifies

As of August 9, 2026, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) is closely monitoring five areas of potential tropical development across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This includes two tropical waves in the Atlantic basin that are showing signs of development as the hurricane season progresses. Currently, no tropical cyclones are active in either ocean, but forecasters are vigilant about a cluster of disturbances stretching from the coast of Africa to the waters east of Hawaii. The NHC has indicated that the most promising Atlantic disturbance has a 40 percent chance of development over the next week.

In the Atlantic, the NHC's Tropical Weather Outlook highlights a broad area of showers and thunderstorms associated with a tropical wave located several hundred miles southwest of the Cape Verde Islands. This system is moving westward across the central tropical Atlantic and may gradually develop during the early to middle part of the week. However, forecasters caution that upper-level winds are expected to become less favorable for development as the disturbance approaches the Lesser Antilles. Currently, this system has a near-zero chance of formation in the next 48 hours and a 20 percent chance over the next week.

Another tropical wave is expected to move off Africa's west coast early this week, with environmental conditions forecasted to be more favorable for development. The NHC suggests that a tropical depression could form during the latter half of the week as this system travels westward across the eastern and central Atlantic, with a 40 percent chance of development over the next seven days.

In the Eastern Pacific, three additional areas are being monitored for potential development. The most significant is a tropical wave located over 1,000 miles east-southeast of Hawaii, which is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. The NHC anticipates that a tropical depression could form within a few days as this system moves west-northwestward across the Central Pacific, with a 90 percent chance of development over the next week. A second disturbance southwest of the Baja California Peninsula has a 50 percent chance of formation, while a third area of low pressure off Mexico's southwestern coast holds only a 10 percent chance. As none of the systems have developed a well-defined circulation yet, forecasts regarding their eventual track and intensity remain uncertain. The increasing number of tropical disturbances indicates that the Atlantic hurricane season is entering a more active phase, prompting meteorologists to closely monitor these systems as they can develop into tropical storms and hurricanes.