Liberty County Emergency Management Agency is monitoring a tropical system that could bring bad weather to the area late Saturday or early Sunday.

LEMA Director Mike Hodges said the National Weather Service is forecasting the broad area of low pressure is already producing gale-force winds about 275 miles southeast of the Carolinas and has an 80 percent chance of becoming a tropical storm over the next 48 hours.

“We are in communication with the National Weather Service, GEMA and other local EMAs in the potentially affected area and will remain in contact throughout the Memorial Day weekend,” Hodges said.

Friday afternoon, he said coastal counties are monitoring the system. No conference calls to discuss preparations had been scheduled. However, Hodges said area residents are being asked to listen and watch for weather alerts.