A tropical storm is likely to develop in the Gulf of Mexico late this weekend or early this week, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Forecasters said Friday evening that there is a 70% chance of development in the next seven days and a 30% chance in the next 48 hours as the low-pressure system makes its way to Florida.

“Heavy rainfall is possible in parts of Florida late this weekend through the middle of next week,” the Hurricane Center said in a statement.

The latest forecast comes just over a week after Hurricane Helene ravaged Florida’s Gulf Coast from Tampa Bay to the Big Bend region before causing catastrophic destruction in western North Carolina and parts of Tennessee, Georgia and Virginia.

READ MORE: For Tampa Bay, Helene was the worst storm in a century

The National Hurricane Center said officials and residents of the Gulf Coast and Florida Keys should keep a close eye on the system.

“Regardless of tropical or subtropical development, locally heavy rainfall is possible over parts of Mexico over the next two days, and much of Florida late this weekend through the middle of next week,” forecasters said in the advisory.

READ MORE: Heavy rains and flooding expected to hit South Florida from Sunday through next week

The National Weather Service Miami said a flood warning will likely be issued for South Florida sometime this weekend.

Forecasters predict rainfall of between 8 and 10 inches in parts of Broward County, 6 to 8 inches in Miami-Dade and about 6 inches in the Keys over the next week, regardless of whether the tropical storm develops or not.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.