MIAMI, Florida – NOAA’s National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, issued a Tropical Weather Outlook at 2:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time on Saturday, July 18, 2026, due to the presence of a disturbance in the Northern Gulf of America and near the Florida Panhandle. Satellite images and surface observations indicate that a broad surface low is forming over the eastern Gulf of America. However, the associated winds remain light, and the showers and thunderstorms are still disorganized. NHC forecasters say that gradual development of this system is possible, and it could become a tropical depression while it moves slowly northward or north-northwestward during the next few days. Interests along the Florida Gulf coast, southern Alabama, and southwestern Georgia should monitor the progress of this system as it is expected to bring heavy rain to portions of that region during the next several days. A U.S. Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft is scheduled to investigate the system on Sunday, if needed This system has a 30% chance of tropical cyclone formation within the next 48 hours and a 40% chance within the next 7 days. If this system develops into a tropical storm or hurricane, the next name on the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane List is Bertha. NOAA forecasts a “below-normal” 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which runs from June 1 through November 30. [caption id="attachment_8226" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] NOAA historical hurricane data. Peak season and storm frequency.[/caption] Although peak hurricane season isn’t until September, hurricane and tropical storm activity is possible throughout July and typically increases as the season progresses toward its climatological peak in mid-September, according to NOAA and the National Weather Service’s historical hurricane activity data.