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* The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a tropical wave that could become a tropical depression this week.
* This year's hurricane season has been relatively quiet for Texas compared to last year.
* Forecasters warn that very warm waters in the Gulf could cause any system to rapidly strengthen.
* The peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is September 10, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October.
The peak of hurricane season is days away as the National Hurricane Center on Sept. 2 monitors a tropical wave with an increasing chance of becoming a tropical depression later this week or over the weekend.
The tropics have been relatively kind to Texas this year, especially compared with last year, when hurricane season kicked off early with Alberto and Beryl -- both striking the state before it remained largely untouched the rest of the season.
So far, this season has produced six named storms, none of which have made U.S. landfall, though Erin brought brutal impacts to North Carolina's Outer Banks.
AccuWeather forecasters said there is a chance the system will develop into Tropical Storm Gabrielle before the weekend.
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Dry air and dust in the atmosphere over the Atlantic have been helping prevent tropical development since Erin and Fernand dissipated in August.
AccuWeather forecasters also warn to keep a close eye on the Gulf. Very warm waters mean anything that moves into the area could rapidly strengthen.
Here's the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center as of 8 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Are any disturbances headed to Texas? See path
* Eastern tropical Atlantic: A tropical wave located over the far eastern tropical Atlantic south of the Cabo Verde islands is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions appear conducive for gradual development of this system during the next several days, and a tropical depression is likely to form later this week or this weekend. This system is expected to move westward to west-northwestward at around 15 mph across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic through the weekend.
More tropical waves:
* A tropical wave is in the central Atlantic along 52W, from 05N to 19N, moving westward at 11 to 17 mph. The wave is embedded in a dry Saharan airmass that is suppressing the development of showers and thunderstorms near the wave axis.
* A tropical wave is in the western Caribbean along 86W, south of 19N, moving westward at 6 to 11 mph. There is no significant convection associated with this wave at this time.
It's too early at this time to determine if there will be any impact to Texas or the U.S. from the tropical waves.
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When is the Atlantic hurricane season?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
Ninety-seven percent of tropical cyclone activity occurs during this time period, NOAA said.
The Atlantic basin includes the northern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of America, as the Gulf of Mexico is now known in the U.S. per an order from President Trump. NOAA and the National Hurricane Center are now using Gulf of America on its maps and in its advisories.
The peak of the season is Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.
How does the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season compare to last year in Texas?
For Texas, the season has been relatively quiet so far -- a sharp contrast to mid-August last year, when the state was already six weeks past the final storm to impact the state, which saw the two earliest storms of the 2024 hurricane season.
In late June 2024, Tropical Storm Alberto threatened the Texas, and by early July, the Lone Star State was tracking one one of the hardest-hit hurricanes of the season -- Hurricane Beryl, which became the earliest Category 5 storm on record before making its third landfall near Matagorda. After that, the remainder of the season was relatively mild for Texas, with no other storm threatening the state.
No storms have directly affected Texas this season, but forecasters warn the season is ramping up as it nears its peak months in August and September.
Prepare now for hurricanes
Delaying potentially life-saving preparations could mean waiting until it's too late. "Get your disaster supplies while the shelves are still stocked, and get that insurance checkup early, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period," NOAA recommends.
* Develop an evacuation plan: If you are at risk from hurricanes, you need an evacuation plan. Now is the time to begin planning where you would go and how you would get there.
* Assemble disaster supplies: Whether you're evacuating or sheltering-in-place, you're going to need supplies not just to get through the storm but for the potentially lengthy aftermath, NOAA said.
* Get an insurance checkup and document your possessions: Contact your insurance company or agent now and ask for an insurance check-up to make sure you have enough insurance to repair or even replace your home and/or belongings. Remember, home and renters insurance doesn't cover flooding, so you'll need a separate policy for it. Flood insurance is available through your company, agent, or the National Flood Insurance Program. Act now, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period.
* Create a family communication plan: NOAA said to take the time now to write down your hurricane plan, and share it with your family. Determine family meeting places, and make sure to include an out-of-town location in case of evacuation.
* Strengthen your home: Now is the time to improve your home's ability to withstand hurricane impacts. Trim trees; install storm shutters, accordion shutters, and/or impact glass; seal outside wall openings.
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Brandi D. Addison covers weather across the United States as the Weather Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. She can be reached at [email protected].
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