A potential tropical storm forming in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to become a low-end Category 1 hurricane by Wednesday and potentially make landfall on the Upper Texas or southwestern Louisiana coasts. The National Hurricane Center has put the chances of tropical storm formation at 90% within 48 hours. A tropical storm watch has been issued for Southern Texas and parts of Mexico. The system is currently moving slowly and is expected to become a tropical storm on Monday, with possible tropical storm conditions in the watch area. This could be the sixth named storm of the season, named Francine. Another storm in the central tropical Atlantic has a 60% chance of becoming a tropical storm within 48 hours, while a storm farther east has a 50% chance of development over the next week. The Gulf of Mexico system is forecasted to bring 4-8 inches of rainfall to the coast, with up to 12 inches in some locations, presenting a flash flood risk. The storm is expected to move northeast as it meets a cold front along the Gulf coast, potentially making landfall on Wednesday evening along the southwestern Louisiana coast. The biggest threat at the moment is flooding, but there is a chance the storm could strengthen into a Category 2 hurricane.
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Possible tropical storm could develop in the Gulf and potentially intensify into a hurricane
