MIAMI - Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center say an area of low pressure in the western Caribbean has an 80 percent chance to become tropical depression within two to five days.

The center's report on June 5 at 2 a.m.:

A broad area of low pressure is located near the eastern Yucatan Peninsula, accompanied by a large area of showers and thunderstorms. Conditions appear to be favorable for some development of this low when it moves into the southern Gulf of Mexico later today.

This system is likely to become a tropical depression or a tropical storm by tonight or on Monday while it moves north-northeastward toward the Florida Peninsula.

Regardless of development, locally heavy rains and flooding are possible over portions of the YucatanPeninsula, western Cuba, the Florida Keys, and the Florida Peninsula during the next few days. Interests in these areas should monitor the progress of this system.

An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate the system later today.