The National Hurricane Center is monitoring the southern Gulf of Mexico/Bay of Campeche for tropical development through the next several days.

“Environmental conditions appear conducive for gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression could form during the early or middle part of next week while it moves slowly westward or west-northwestward,” the NHC said in its latest outlook Thursday morning.

If this system becomes the first named storm of the season, it will be called Alberto.

Regardless of development, heavy rainfall is expected across southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana from Sunday through mid next week, according to the National Weather Service’s Lake Charles office.

Higher-than-normal tides and breezy conditions are also anticipated.