A storm forming in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to bring intense rain, which could result in flooding to Florida beginning Sunday and continuing into much of the following week.

While forecasters are still determining if this storm will become a named tropical storm or perhaps even a weak hurricane, the National Hurricane Center forecasts heavy rain in various parts of Florida starting late this weekend and into the next week.

“Though we still don’t know the storm’s precise path or strength, Florida is likely to take the hardest hit,” said Bernie Rayno, chief meteorologist at AccuWeather. “Currently, it could mean anything from a large tropical rainstorm to a more powerful hurricane hitting land.”

Right now, the main concern among forecasters is the anticipated rainfall.

Significant rain accumulation, ranging from several inches up to potentially a foot or even more, is expected in various regions, especially between Interstate 4 southward to the Keys, according to AccuWeather. In some isolated locations, predictions suggest nearly 30 inches of rain could fall. Many areas may see 10 to 15 inches of rain, as stated by the National Weather Service.

The National Weather Service’s Miami office emphasizes that even though the system is less organized regarding central pressure or maximum winds, it can still lead to considerable impacts. “We want to stress that a disorganized system doesn’t mean it won’t have serious effects,” the office noted.

Hurricane Development Possible, According to AccuWeather

“If a system develops in the southwestern Gulf and moves in a narrow east-northeast direction towards the Florida Peninsula, there’s potential for it to strengthen into a tropical storm or hurricane,” stated Alex DaSilva from AccuWeather.

However, the hurricane center is more cautious, indicating that “a tropical or subtropical depression or storm could form in the early to middle part of next week,” as noted in a Friday forecast.

Experts from the University of Miami also are not expecting a hurricane, with several models indicating a weak low-pressure system over southern or central Florida on Tuesday into Wednesday, which could possibly be a low-end tropical storm.

If the storm is named, the next available name in the list is Milton.

Rain and Not Wind is the Major Concern

According to McNoldy, there’s consensus that the system will gradually move east toward the Florida peninsula, with rain expected to start on Sunday and persist for several days. “It might develop into a tropical or subtropical depression or storm, but rain will be the primary threat, not wind,” he explained.

Central and South Florida are likely to experience heavy rainfall from Sunday through Tuesday, as noted by meteorologist Ryan Truchelut.

Kirk and Leslie Continue in the Atlantic

Meanwhile, Hurricane Kirk and Tropical Storm Leslie are still active in the Atlantic Ocean but remain distant from land. Kirk is expected to create large swells that could result in dangerous surf and rip currents along the U.S. East Coast by Sunday, as warned by the hurricane center.

Though predicted to weaken early next week, Kirk or its remnants could still influence much of western Europe by the middle of next week, according to AccuWeather.

Tropical Storm Leslie is on track to reach hurricane strength by Saturday but currently does not pose a threat to any land areas, as indicated by the hurricane center.

(This story has been updated to include new information.)