Even odds that tropical system will form, forecasters say

There's now a 50-50 chance that the area of low pressure heading our way could become a subtropical or tropical storm, the National Weather Service says.

A satellite photo taken at 8 a.m. Wednesday.

The odds have been steadily increasing since the system began dumping large amounts of rain on western Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula at the beginning of the week.

An Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft is on call to make a flight into the system this afternoon if forecasters deem it necessary, the weather service reported.

At 8 a.m., the broad area of low pressure is producing a number of disorganized thunderstorms and strong gusty winds. Forecasters say environmental conditions could become a little more conducive for development over the next day or so, becoming a tropical depression by late Thursday.

The next update from the National Weather Service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday.