A flood watch remains in effect through Saturday morning across southeast Louisiana due to heavy rain moving inland from a system in the Gulf of Mexico.
The system, one of five being monitored by the National Hurricane Center, has an low chance of developing into a tropical depression or storm. Regardless of development, much of the area is in line to see three to eight inches of rain with locally higher amounts.
An approaching cold front will help to push the rain out of the area for a few days before the chance for showers and thunderstorms returns next week.
Here's the latest tropical weather outlook from the NHC from Thursday afternoon.
Northwest Gulf of Mexico:
A large area of showers and thunderstorms continue in association with a broad area of low pressure interacting with a weak frontal boundary located over the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Upper-level winds are expected to become less conducive for development by late Friday and Saturday as another frontal boundary approaches the system. Although development is unlikely, heavy rainfall is expected across portions of the northern Gulf Coast during the next day or so. Additional information on this system can be found in products issued by your local National Weather Service Forecast Office.
- Formation chance through 48 hours...low...10 percent.
- Formation chance through 7 days...low...10 percent.
Northwestern Atlantic (AL99):
Showers and thunderstorms have become better organized in association with a non-tropical area of low pressure located a few hundred miles east of North Carolina, and recent satellite data indicates the system is producing winds to near gale-force. This system could acquire some tropical or subtropical characteristics over the next day or two while it moves generally north-northeastward, remaining offshore of the northeastern United States. Once the low moves over cooler waters by early Saturday, further development is not expected.
- Formation chance through 48 hours...low...30 percent.
- Formation chance through 7 days...low...30 percent.
Eastern Tropical Atlantic:
An elongated trough of low pressure over the eastern tropical Atlantic is producing limited shower activity. Development is not expected through this weekend while the system moves little. Some slow development appears possible early next week when the disturbance begins moving slowly northwestward.
- Formation chance through 48 hours...low...near 0 percent.
- Formation chance through 7 days...low...20 percent.
Northwestern Caribbean Sea and Southwestern Gulf of Mexico:
Shower and thunderstorm activity remains disorganized in association with a westward-moving tropical wave located over the western Caribbean Sea. Development is not expected before the system reaches Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula by early Friday. Some gradual development is possible late in the weekend into early next week after the system emerges over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.
- Formation chance through 48 hours...low...near 0 percent.
- Formation chance through 7 days...low...20 percent.
Central Tropical Atlantic:
Another tropical wave located a few hundred miles east of the Leeward Islands is producing limited shower and thunderstorm activity. Strong upper-level winds are expected to inhibit development of this system during the next few days while it moves west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph. By early next week, environmental conditions could become more conducive for some slow development while the system moves over the southwestern Atlantic Ocean.
- Formation chance through 48 hours...low...near 0 percent.
- Formation chance through 7 days...low...10 percent.