A tropical wave in the central Caribbean is being closely monitored by the National Hurricane Center and is being called invest 99L.

The disturbance is causing disorganized showers and thunderstorms and has a high chance of developing over the next seven days, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Tuesday.

Hurricane Hunter aircraft will fly into the area of ​​concern on Wednesday to collect data needed to better predict the potential storm.

The disturbance will move into a favorable area for tropical development, just off Nicaragua, and could become a tropical depression by the end of the week.

Heavy rain and winds could hit parts of Central America this weekend.

If this storm forms, it will be the 18th storm of the hurricane season and take the name Sara.

We’ll have to keep a close eye on this system early next week. Some models put the storm toward the Gulf of Mexico, while others keep it away from the United States.

Models continue to vary in possible trajectory and intensity, so check back with us on NBC6.com and in our app for the latest tropical updates.

The hurricane season ends on November 30.