Weather system could become Hurricane Ana

MIAMI, June 27 (UPI) -- The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Saturday a tropical wave in the northwest Caribbean Sea could become the first named storm of the 2009 hurricane season.

The disturbance was churning up thunderstorms from Cuba to Mexico's Yucatan and had a 30 percent to 50 percent chance of turning into a full-blown hurricane by Monday, forecasters said.

The Miami Herald reported the storm was not well organized Saturday, but would probably strengthen as it moved into the Gulf of Mexico.

Hurricane forecasters have predicted a "near-normal" Atlantic hurricane season with between nine and 14 named storms, starting with "Ana."