The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has identified the disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico as Potential Tropical Cyclone Six. This system is expected to intensify and may become a hurricane as it approaches the U.S. Gulf Coast later this week.
Heavy rain is already impacting parts of the Texas coast, and tropical storm watches have been issued for areas from Barra del Tordo in Mexico to Port Mansfield in Texas. Additional watches for hurricanes, storm surges, and tropical storms are anticipated for parts of Louisiana and the Upper Texas coastline by early Monday.
A tropical storm watch means conditions are possible within 48 hours, while a warning is issued when those conditions are expected within 36 hours. The system is expected to move north, potentially reaching the Upper Texas and Louisiana coasts by Wednesday as a tropical storm or hurricane. Rainfall totals could range from 4 to 8 inches, with localized amounts up to 12 inches, leading to flash flooding in areas already saturated from recent rains.
Meanwhile, the Atlantic hurricane season is nearing its peak, and the NHC is monitoring two additional disturbances. One system, Invest 92L, located east of the Lesser Antilles, is showing increasing signs of development. The NHC now gives it a high chance of forming into a tropical system within the next week, with potential impacts on the Caribbean by the end of the week.