Florida is bracing for what could be the United States’ heaviest-hitting hurricane so far this season, as an area of thunderstorms builds strength in the Caribbean Sea before potentially bringing life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds to the Southeast later this week.

A tropical depression or storm is likely to form over the next couple of days. The Florida Panhandle is on alert. Here's what you need to know.

There are no expected direct tropical impacts forecast for the Southwest Louisiana area this week from a tropical disturbance developing in the Caribbean Sea. The National Hurricane Center is reporting a broad area of low pressure over the northwestern Caribbean Sea that has a 80 percent chance of tropical development over the next two days.