A tropical storm is intensifying and is expected to reach typhoon strength before hitting southern China's coast on Sunday.

While the Caribbean remains quiet, there are several areas of the Atlantic basin, especially some close to the United States that bear watching in the coming days for tropical activity.

Showers and thunderstorms associated with a small area of low pressure located about 900 miles east-southeast of the Lesser Antilles have increased.

Several inches of rain are likely on the islands that this disturbance passes over. An increase in swells and rip current potential are expected late week near the Lesser Antilles. These effects may be confined to a smaller area given the wave's smaller size.

As high pressure builds over the southern United States next week, the northern Gulf to areas along the central Gulf coast will be the zone to watch for tropical development.

Much of the Houston and Galveston area is expected to experience heavy rainfall and scattered thunderstorms on Friday as remnants of a tropical disturbance that made its way from Florida move out of the Gulf.

The storm remains disorganized on Wednesday but still has time to strengthen over the Gulf before making landfall on Thursday.