Chances increasing slightly for development of tropical or subtropical storm in Atlantic

Will there be a December tropical storm in the Atlantic?

It's possible.

A system of low pressure in the Central Atlantic has a 50 percent chance of strengthening into a subtropical or tropical cyclone over the next 48 hours, according to a special tropical weather outlook from the National Hurricane Center.

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Ten named storms have formed in the Atlantic in December since 1950. The most recent December storm was in 2013, which was identified during post-season analysis and never given a name, according to Philip Klotzbach, Colorado State University meteorologist who specializes in Atlantic basin seasonal hurricane forecasts.

"An area of low pressure over the south-central North Atlantic Ocean is expected to sit over warm water for much of this week. Due to this, there is concern that the storm can take on tropical characteristics as thunderstorms build near its center," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty.

The tropical system is expected to strengthen throughout the week and may become an organized tropical depression or subtropical storm as early as the middle of this week, Douty said.

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If this system  does strengthen, it would become Owen.

To become a named storm, maximum sustained winds must reach 39 mph.

Here's the latest update from the NHC as of 8:30 a.m. Dec. 7:

What's out there and where is it?

A large non-tropical area of low pressure located over the central subtropical Atlantic about 900 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands continues to produce a large area of showers and thunderstorms.

This activity has become somewhat better organized this morning, though frontal features remain attached to the low.

How likely is it to strengthen?

Environmental conditions appear marginally conducive for development and a subtropical or tropical storm could form within the next day or so.

By Friday, the low will move northeast over cooler waters and interact with a mid-latitude trough, limiting the chance for additional subtropical or tropical development of the system.

• Formation chance through 48 hours: medium 50 percent.

• Formation chance through 5 days:  medium 50 percent.

Who is likely to be impacted?

Areas most likely to be impacted as the storm moves over the Atlantic will be Bermuda and the Azores, according to AccuWeather.

However, it's possible  rough surf could make it as far west as Florida's Atlantic coast if the storm becomes strong enough.

When is the Atlantic hurricane season?

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.

When is the peak of hurricane season?

This year's season got off to a quiet start and there were no named storms in August. The peak of the season is Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.

Weather watches and warnings issued for your area

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What's out there?

Systems currently being monitored by the National Hurricane Center.

What's next?

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This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Tropics watch: NHC advisory says tropical or subtropical storm possible