MIAMI — Forecasters say a tropical weather system moving toward the Gulf of Mexico is strengthening.

The National ********* Center said Friday that a low pressure system in the northwestern Caribbean Sea has become better defined overnight and could be a tropical depression or storm by Saturday.

The centre put chances of formation at 90% over the next two days.

The system sits east of the Yucatan Peninsula and is moving northward. Forecasters say heavy rains are likely across western Cuba, much of ******* and the northern Gulf Coast into early next week.

Portions of the northern Gulf Coast are likely to experience tropical storm force winds and storm *****. An Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft is scheduled to investigate the weather system Friday.

The tropical ****** comes earlier than usual. The six-month ********* season doesn’t begin until June 1. If it becomes a tropical storm, it would be named Alberto.