Another Tropical System forms in the Gulf

According to the National Hurricane Center the tropical wave we have been watching for several days is now located between the southeastern Bahamas and the northeastern coast of Cuba.

The low pressure area associated with the tropical wave is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms mainly to its south and east.

Conditions are not particularly conducive for development during the next day or so while the system moves more slowly toward the west-northwest at about 10 mph. However, environmental conditions could become a little more conducive for development over the weekend or early next week while the system moves through the Straits of Florida and into the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

The system will bring heavy rains, with the potential to cause flash floods and mud slides, are likely over Hispaniola and eastern and central Cuba during the next couple of days. Gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall are also possible over portions of the Bahamas during the next few days. People in South Florida and the Florida Keys should continue to monitor the progress of this disturbance since some impacts, such as heavy rains and gusty winds, could begin over weekend and continue through early next week.

The National Hurricane Center now estimates the probability of this system becoming a tropical depression or storm within the next 48 hours at 30 percent. The odds of tropical formation within 5 days is now 60%.

A second area of disturbed weather is located over the northern portion of the Gulf of Mexico. This system is not expected to develop into a tropical storm or hurricane before it reaches the coast of Texas over the weekend.

The next full update from the National Hurricane Center will be issued at 8:00 AM EDT.