A tropical wave emerging off the coast of Africa could become the next disturbance to monitor in the Caribbean, forecasters said Thursday.

The system is expected to move westward to west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph as it interacts with another disturbance in the eastern tropical Atlantic. While slow development is possible, the National Hurricane Center said formation chances remain low.

The chance of formation in the next 48 hours: near 0 percent.

The chance of formation in the next 7 days: 20 percent.

Meteorologists urged residents in the Caribbean to stay alert, noting that October remains an active period in the hurricane season.