Cristobal puts U.S. Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida under tropical storm watch
Cristobal has strengthened into a tropical storm again as it emerges into the Gulf of Mexico and moves north toward the U.S. Gulf Coast this weekend. A tropical storm watch was issued Friday from Texas to Florida, including in New Orleans.
The tropical depression strengthened into a tropical storm shortly before 2 p.m. Friday and could see some “additional strengthening during the next 48 hours,” according to the National Hurricane Center. The forecast does not show it strengthening into a hurricane.
Its tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 240 miles from the center and may be felt as early as Sunday morning from Intracoastal City, Louisiana, to the Alabama/Florida border, including in metropolitan New Orleans, according to the National Hurricane Center’s afternoon advisory. Cristobal is forecast to make landfall in Louisiana as a tropical storm sometime Sunday.
Life-threatening storm surge is also possible along the Florida Big Bend, in portions of southeastern Louisiana and along the Mississippi coast within the next 48 hours, according to forecasters. Cristobal could also bring heavy rain and flash floods to those along the U.S. Gulf Coast from east Texas to Florida this weekend and into early next week.
The National Hurricane Center says the hazardous conditions may be felt “well in advance of and extend well east of Cristobal’s center,” and are asking U.S. Gulf coast residents to follow the advice given by local emergency officials.
Cristobal is about 440 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River.
Regardless of Cristobal’s exact track and forward speed, “the strongest winds, highest storm surge, and heaviest rains could be well removed from the center of circulation,” according to forecasters. That means that the storm’s worst conditions might occur far from where its center is located.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for east of Morgan City, Louisiana to the Okaloosa/Walton County Florida line, along with Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas.
A tropical storm watch is in effect for Intracoastal City, Louisiana to Morgan City A tropical storm watch is also in effect for Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas.
A storm surge warning is in effect for the mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, along with Lake Borgne.
A storm surge watch is in effect for the Indian Pass to Arepika, Florida, as well as for east of Morgan City, Louisiana.
Where is Cristobal now?
Mexico discontinued its Tropical Storm Warning for eastern Mexico.
The system is forecast to bring additional heavy rain over far southern Mexico, portions of the Yucatan Peninsula and along the Pacific coast from Chiapas to Guatemala and El Salvador Friday and Saturday, with widespread life-threatening flash floods and mudslides possible, according to forecasters.
Cristobal has doused parts of Mexico and Central America with heavy rain and life-threatening flooding for several days. Since Saturday, the storm has dropped 35 inches of rain in parts of southern Guatemala, Chiapas, Mexico and El Salvador. Forecasters expect portions of Mexico and Central America might see an additional one to 12 inches of rain Friday and Saturday, with isolated areas possibly seeing up to 25 inches.
An Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate Cristobal Friday night.
This story was originally published June 5, 2020 at 7:33 AM.
