We now have Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 pushing toward the Lesser Antilles, which could become Tropical Storm Harvey sometime today.

Winds are sustained at 35 mph with higher gusts as PTC9 moves west at 17 mph. It’s located about 365 miles east of Barbados. A tropical storm warning has been issued for Martinique, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia. A tropical storm watch in effect for Dominica.

A potential tropical cyclone is given to a system that has yet to develop full tropical characteristics but poses a threat of tropical storm or hurricane-force winds to land within 48 hours.

Gert has weakened to a Category 1 hurricane with winds down to 80 mph. It's quickly racing east-northeast at 40 mph, away from Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Winds this morning were up to 100 mph, making it the strongest storm so far this season. It will send rough seas and hazardous surf toward the Canadian Maritimes and will impact primarily shipping interests in the North Atlantic.

Within 48 hours, Gert should move over cooler waters, where it will lose tropical characteristics and weaken considerably. It poses no threat to the United States.

There are a couple of other tropical waves being investigated for potential development, but they are in the open waters of the Central Atlantic at this time. Both will soon enter more favorable waters for intensification.

We’ll watch both of these as they travel either west or northwest, but there is no imminent threat to the United States. Harvey will be the next named storm.

There’s a third wave coming off the coast of Africa that should move in similar fashion and eventually shift into a favorable environment for strengthening.

We're entering the peak time of hurricane season when storms are most likely to occur. The statistical peak of the Atlantic season is Sept. 10.

Central Florida residents and visitors are always encouraged to be prepared for threatening weather throughout hurricane season by having hurricane safety kits, evacuation plans and News 13+ downloaded.

Hurricane season ends Nov. 30.