National Hurricane Center tracks system as hurricane season begins. Is Pensacola in the way?

The first day of the Atlantic hurricane season has arrived, and there's already something brewing in the Gulf of Mexico.

Meteorologists for the National Weather Service in Mobile told the News Journal that a low pressure system is currently forming off the Florida coast, but has a very small chance of turning into a tropical system.

"It's pretty low at this point, about 10% for the next two days and 20% over the next week," said Michael Mugrage, NWS Mobile meteorologist.

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The Pensacola area may see some increased winds off the coast with a "high risk" of rip currents along the beach beginning Thursday, Mugrage said.

"That's going to be our main impact is rip currents, higher surf and stronger winds offshore," he said. "We might see a few rain showers that might try to move onshore, but it depends on how this thing evolves.

"The bottom line is it's not going to be coming here," Mugrage added. "It's going to stay offshore and eventually move off to the east."

When does something become a tropical depression or tropical storm?

Both a tropical depression and tropical storm have a rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms and a closed low-level circulation, according to NOAA.

• Tropical depression: A tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 38 mph or less.
• Tropical storm: A tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph.

When is the Atlantic hurricane season?

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

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How do I prepare for Atlantic hurricane season?

Escambia County Emergency Management recommends residents prepare before a named hurricane forms by having the proper supplies on hand throughout the season.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the Freedom Summer Sales Tax Holiday that exempts sales takes for eligible boating, water, camping, fishing and other general outdoor supplies. The event, which runs from May 27 until Sept. 4, provides Florida residents with more opportunities to pick up hurricane supplies not typically included in the disaster preparedness sales tax holiday.

The complete list of items you can buy tax-free is listed at FloridaRevenue.com/DisasterPrep.

Cheryl McCloud contributed to this report.