Tropical systems brewing in the Atlantic could drench the Gulf Coast, forecasts show
The Gulf Coast could get drenched as a pair of tropical systems strengthen over the Atlantic, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Forecasters are tracking the two “disturbances,” one of which a has a 40% percent chance of developing into a tropical storm as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico late Tuesday. The other, lingering near the Lesser Antilles, has been upgraded to a tropical depression.
“Gradual development of this system is possible while it moves west-northwestward,” the National Hurricane Center said of the first tropical disturbance, which is currently spinning near Cuba. “The system is expected to move over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico later today, the central Gulf on Wednesday, and the northwestern Gulf on Thursday and Friday.”
“Disorganized” downpours and thunderstorms are expected in the coming days as the tropical wave approaches the Gulf, especially in parts of southern Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, forecasts show. The system is sitting near southern Florida and Cuba and has a moderate chance of strengthening to a depression or storm.
“Those chances can go up or down depending on what happens once it gets out over the water,” said WLOX meteorologist Wesley Williams. “I’m willing to bet that once it moves from over all of this land and really has room to get better organized over the open waters of the Gulf, we’re probably going to see those chances go up.”
Higher rain chances are expected Wednesday through Friday, according to the local forecast.
Tropical storms are defined by wind strength, with a tropical depression having “maximum sustained surface winds of 38 mph,” according to the National Weather Service. For a tropical storm it increases to 39-73 mph and a hurricane has sustained wind speeds of 74 mph or more.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast could be spared from the worst of the rain as the system treks slightly south, putting portions of the upper Texas and Louisiana coastline in its direct path.
“How much rain falls will depend on how organized it gets and where it eventually moves inland along the Texas coast,” according to Houston station KTRK.
Forecasters also have their eye on Tropical Depression “Seven”, which was officially upgraded Tuesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm is currently moving west-northwest at 8 mph with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph, forecasts show. The cone of uncertainty shows the system heading into the Caribbean by Saturday.
Should it become the Atlantic’s next tropical storm, it will be named “Gonzalo.”
This story was originally published July 21, 2020 at 5:56 PM with the headline "Tropical systems brewing in the Atlantic could drench the Gulf Coast, forecasts show."