ORLANDO, Fla. – Tropical Storm Jerry is moving quickly across the Atlantic and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Thursday, while a weak disturbance in the Bay of Campeche could bring heavy rain and gusty winds to southern Mexico.

Tropical Storm Jerry

Tropical Storm Jerry remains poorly organized Wednesday morning, with most of its thunderstorms displaced to the south and east of its center.

NOAA and Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft are scheduled to take a closer look at the storm Wednesday afternoon.

Jerry is racing west-northwest at about 20 mph, guided by a strong ridge over the central Atlantic. The system is expected to slow down and strengthen over the next couple of days, reaching hurricane status by Thursday as it moves near or north of the northern Leeward Islands late Thursday into Friday.

By Friday, a dip in the jet stream over the western Atlantic should turn Jerry northward, then northeast early next week — keeping the storm away from the U.S.

Tropical storm watches remain in effect for parts of the northern Leeward Islands.

Gulf System

Farther west, a trough of low pressure in the Bay of Campeche continues to produce disorganized showers and storms as it drifts toward the coast of southern Mexico.

While tropical development is unlikely, with only a 10% chance over the next two to seven days, the system will still deliver heavy rain and gusty winds across southern Mexico through early Thursday.