Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center are closely watching the southwestern Gulf of Mexico for possible tropical development in the coming days.
The NHC on Saturday placed a high chance of a tropical depression forming in the next seven days.
Exact impacts to Louisiana remain unclear, though rain chances are expected to increase during the week.
Western Gulf of Mexico:
An area of low pressure has formed over the Bay of Campeche and is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. The system is forecast to drift slowly northward for a couple of days while it interacts with a frontal boundary. Environmental conditions are forecast to be conducive for development, and a tropical depression is likely to form during the early or middle part of next week while the system moves generally northward near or along the Mexican and Texas Gulf coastline. Interests along the western Gulf of Mexico coast should closely monitor the progress of this system.
- Formation chance through 48 hours...medium...50 percent.
- Formation chance through 7 days...high...70 percent.
Central Tropical Atlantic:
An area of low pressure over the central tropical Atlantic is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Gradual development of this system is possible while the system meanders during the next couple of days, and a tropical depression could form early next week. The system is then forecast to move west-northwestward at about 10 mph across the central tropical Atlantic during the middle to latter part of next week.
- Formation chance through 48 hours...low...10 percent.
- Formation chance through 7 days...medium...40 percent.
Eastern and Central Tropical Atlantic:
Disorganized showers and thunderstorms associated with a trough of low pressure are located several hundred miles east-southeast of the Cabo Verde Islands. Some slow development of this system is possible as it interacts with a tropical wave expected to move off the African continent early next week and moves west-northwestward at 5 to 10 mph.
- Formation chance through 48 hours...low...near 0 percent.
- Formation chance through 7 days...low...20 percent.