The National Hurricane Center is watching a potential tropical cyclone that could form from a storm moving westward in the Atlantic.

The National Hurricane Center expects to see two storms become tropical cyclones during the first week of September, a tropical wave in the Atlantic off the west coast of Africa and a potential storm in the Pacific about 100 miles off Mexico's southwestern coast.

The tropical wave was west of Guinea-Bissau in Africa, and the National Hurricane Center said environmental conditions appear conducive for a tropical depression to form later this week. Chances of formation within 48 hours were low, but over seven days, the chances of a storm forming were at 60% the night of Sept. 1.

The next name up on the list of Atlantic hurricane names is Gabrielle. The wave is expected to move west to west-northwestward at about 15 mph, remaining far out over the open Atlantic this week.

Based on the most recent 30-year period, the sixth named storm of the season typically appears around Aug. 29.

In the eastern Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Kiko formed and is expected to rapidly strengthen to a hurricane on Sept. 2. Maximum sustained winds in Kiko had reached 65 mph with higher gusts on the evening of Sept. 1, as the system was centered about 1,235 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. It's forecast to become a hurricane with 85 mph winds by Sept. 2, then strengthen to winds of 110 mph by Sept. 4, the hurricane center said.

The storm is forecast to move slowly in a generally westward direction between Cental America and Hawaii over the next few days, the hurricane center advised.

A little more than 100 miles off the coast of southwestern Mexico, showers and thunderstorms are becoming better organized with a tropical wave. On the evening of Sept. 1, the storm was given a 90% chance of becoming a tropical cyclone over the next 48 hours. Lorena is the next name up on the official list of storm names in the Eastern Pacific.

The storm could turn and approach the coast of Baja California later this week, and watches and warnings could be required on Sept. 2, the hurricane center said. Regardless of development, the storm is forecast to bring heavy rain to coastal portions of southwestern Mexico and west-central Mexico. The rains along Baja California Sur could lead to flash flooding, especially in the mountains.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Forecasters watch tropical wave; Tropical Storm Kiko expected to become hurricane

Reporting by Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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