MIAMI — The National Hurricane Center is watching a tropical weather system in the Gulf of Mexico. The center says the tropical system has a 40 percent chance of gaining subtropical characteristics in the next five days.

The hurricane center issued an alert on Monday, less than three weeks before the June 1 start of hurricane season.

Rain will likely be the main threat this week on the Mississippi Coast, the center said, according to the Biloxi Sun Herald.

South Mississippi can expect Isolated thunderstorms starting Monday afternoon through Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. There’s also a chance of a severe thunderstorm with strong winds each day.