TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)— An area of low pressure located just offshore of the east coast of Florida is gradually becoming better defined, the National Hurricane Center announced.

The system is expected to move westward across the Florida Peninsula today and into tonight before reaching the northeastern Gulf by the middle of this week.

Shower and thunderstorm activity is expected to remain disorganized.

According to NHC, environmental conditions appear generally favorable for additional development, and a tropical depression could form by the middle of this week as the system moves across the northeastern and north-central Gulf.

Heavy rainfall could produce flash flooding over parts of Florida and north-central Gulf through mid-week.

The chance of formation in the next 48 hours is 40 percent, and in the next seven days, the chance of formation is 40 percent.