A tropical disturbance taking shape in the eastern Atlantic could gradually develop in the days ahead as it moves westward, forecasters said Saturday, the latest sign of hurricane season reaching its peak.

The wave off the west coast of Africa is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms, the National Hurricane Center said.

"Environmental conditions appear favorable for gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression could form by the middle to latter portion of next week while it moves west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic," forecasters said.

The disturbance has a 40% chance of cyclone formation over the next seven days, they said.

A second disturbance in the central Atlantic had a 20% chance of forma

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