A trough of low pressure over the northern Gulf of Mexico has a 20 percent chance of becoming a tropical depression in the next few days. It is expected to bring a lot of rain to parts of the northern Gulf Coast and is raising concerns about flash flooding later this week.

A tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico may not get a name, but it could cause problems for parts of Alabama this week.

A stalled front that moved through the state over the weekend made it into the Gulf and generated an area of low pressure that was just offshore of the Florida Panhandle on Tuesday.

The National Hurricane Center said gradual development could be possible this week -- if the system stays over water. It is expected to drift near the northern Gulf Coast through the end of the week.

It’s too soon to say if the system could organize enough to become a tropical storm and get a name -- but if it did it would be Danielle.

Name or no name, the hurricane center said the disturbance will bring periods of heavy rain to areas along the northern Gulf Coast from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle over the next several days.

The National Weather Service in Mobile was becoming more concerned about the threat for flooding across parts of southwest Alabama this week and has added an elevated risk for flooding across coastal areas.

Flash flooding will be increasingly possible for areas near the coast this weekend.

Forecasters urged those in south Alabama not to focus on whether this system morphs into a named storm.

“PLEASE DO NOT FOCUS ON IF IT HAS A NAME,” the weather service said in its forecast discussion. “We expect heavy rain that will potentially lead to more flooding, regardless of whether or not the fire hose of moisture over the Gulf eventually gets a name at some point this week.”

The threat for flooding could begin today but will increase toward the end of the week.

Forecasters said areas of flash flooding will be possible “with some roads flooded and some structures potentially threatened.”

Areas along the coast have the highest risk for seeing flooding rain, the weather service said.

In addition to the rain there will also be a high risk for deadly rip currents along the beaches. The weather service has raised the rip current risk to high today, and it will remain there through at least Friday.

A high rip current risk means the water will be dangerous for swimmers of all levels.

There will be a high risk for rip currents starting today along the Alabama and northwest Florida beaches.

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