Millions of people living along the Gulf Coast are urged to make sure preparations are in place as the next tropical threat to the U.S. brews in the Caribbean, and there are increasing signs that the ingredients needed for a tropical storm or hurricane to form are coming together.
Several computer forecast models depict a strong tropical storm or hurricane in the eastern Gulf of Mexico by the end of this week. However, the forecast still has a lot of uncertainty, with several potential outcomes.
The development odds for the system have been steadily increasing, and the National Hurricane Center (NHC) says there is a high chance of tropical development from the northwestern Caribbean Sea to the southern and eastern Gulf of Mexico over the next seven days.
The NHC says a broad area of low pressure is currently producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms over the northwestern Caribbean Sea and portions of Central America.
“Environmental conditions appear favorable for development of this system, and a tropical depression or tropical storm is likely to form during the next few days while moving northward across the northwestern Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico,” the NHC said in its latest tropical weather outlook.
The system is expected to dump heavy rain over portions of Central America during the next several days, according to the NHC.
The NHC said areas of the northwestern Caribbean, Mexico‘s Yucatán Peninsula, and western Cuba should closely monitor the progress of the system.
Later this week, the NHC says the system is expected to move northward over the Gulf of Mexico, and communities along the northern and northeastern Gulf Coast should also stay alert.
TYT Newsroom
