An Air Force Reserve Unit reconnaissance aircraft has been dispatched to take readings in the Gulf of Mexico where tropical cyclone formation appears to be imminent.

According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, cloudiness and thunderstorms associated with a broad area of low pressure over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico have become a little better organized today. This system is expected to move generally northward, and according to the NHC,  a tropical or subtropical depression is likely to form over the west-central Gulf of Mexico tonight or early Friday.

With the formation of a system imminent, the National Hurricane Center says that a  tropical storm warning will likely be required for a portion of the northern Gulf Coast later this afternoon, and Potential Tropical Cyclone advisories will likely be initiated on this system at 4 pm CT / 5 pm ET.




Heavy rainfall will continue over portions of Central America and southern Mexico during the next couple of days as a result of this storm system. Heavy rains will also begin to affect portions of the northern Gulf Coast on Friday, with storm total amounts of over 10″ possible by the time the Gulf system finally exits the area. This could lead to life-threatening flood conditions there and residents are urged to be prepared for such a possibility.