A tropical disturbance in the southwestern Gulf is likely to develop into a tropical depression within the next 48 hours, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Forecasters at the NHC say the system has a 90% chance of becoming a tropical depression by Thursday at the latest. As of Tuesday, showers and thunderstorms are showing increased signs of organization across a broad area of low pressure. The area of low pressure could bring gusty winds and areas of heavy rain to the western portions of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico over the next couple of days. The disturbance is expected to turn to the north or northeast toward the northern Gulf Coast by the end of the week.
“It is still too early to determine specific impacts to the northern Gulf Coast, but interests from the Florida Panhandle to Louisiana should closely monitor the progress of this system,” the NOAA said in an update. “The NOAA Gulfstream is scheduled to sample the environment over the Gulf later [Tuesday], and an Air Force reconnaissance aircraft is scheduled to investigate the system [Wednesday].”
Residents in Mississippi can expect increasing rain and moisture to arrive by Friday, with widespread heavy downpours and thunderstorms expected across central and southern Mississippi through Sunday.
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If the system does become a tropical storm, the next name on the Atlantic list is Isaias.
According to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, it is still too soon to determine the storm’s strength or impacts. SuperTalk Mississippi News will provide updates as additional information becomes available.