AccuWeather meteorologists are warning of a growing likelihood of a tropical storm or hurricane impacting the U.S. Gulf Coast next week. Residents, businesses, and officials are urged to prepare and be flexible as a storm could form rapidly and leave little time for tracking and preparation.

The National Hurricane Center is tracking Tropical Storm Gordon and a system off the Florida coast has potential for development.

A sneaky ocean rainstorm is poised to strike the Carolinas, bringing ashore strong wind gusts and the risk of coastal and inland flooding to the Mid-Atlantic. The system, which could acquire some tropical characteristics over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream,