Tropical storms like to form in the western Gulf of Mexico during June. Herethey can graze on exceedingly warm water that is yet to come into existence sofar this year across the central and eastern Atlantic.Next week, low pressure will drift across the Yucatan Peninsula into thesouthwestern Gulf, where it could mature into a tropical storm. How strong thesystem could become is unknown at this time.

We do know, however, that Hurricane Audrey (1957) was the only Atlantic Basinstorm to reach Category 4 intensity in June. Therefore, the climatological oddsof having a strong system in the western Gulf of Mexico next week aren't veryhigh.

Story by AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist John Kocet.