(National Hurricane Center)

A surface trough over Central America has the potential of organizing into a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico next week.

The National Hurricane Center said Saturday afternoon it is watching a surface trough now positioned over portions of Central America and the southern Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. It is producing disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity.

The trough is expected to move over the southwest or south central portion of the Gulf of Mexico either Sunday and Monday.

“Unfavorable upper level winds will limit development Sunday and Monday,” said Roger Erickson, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service’s Lake Charles office.

Erickson said by mid-week, conditions could be more favorable for development.

“This system will be moving north or northeast into the central and north central Gulf of Mexico during this time period,” Erickson said.

He said the system has a 30 percent of developing into a tropical storm. If it does, it is expected to be named “Mindy.”

“Regardless of development, rain chances will be increasing across our region with a disturbance in the Gulf this week,” he said. “Further out in the Atlantic, Larry will threaten Bermuda next week, but it will not be a threat to the Gulf of Mexico.”