Forecasters are tracking a disturbance that is forecast to be a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico this week, but the National Hurricane Center says it may or may not impact Louisiana.
“Given significant uncertainties in the long-range forecast track and intensity, it is too soon to determine what, if any, impacts could occur,” the NHC posted.
The current forecast calls for the system to gain strength as it moves toward Jamaica and Cuba.
The Hurricane Center forecasts it will move into the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday as Hurricane Rafael.
From there, it could fall apart completely or send some impacts to Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and/or Louisiana.
“Residents in this area should regularly monitor updates to the forecast.”
WWL TV Meteorologist Payton Malone says, “Luckily it’s November, so we do think the storm will begin to weaken as it moves north in the Gulf.”
He says dry air, wind shear and cooler water temperatures will all make it hard for the system to keep its strength.
“The current track does bring the storm near Louisiana later Friday into Saturday, but there remains a lot of uncertainty on how strong the storm will be once it nears the northern Gulf. If it weakens fast enough there might not be much left of it to bring impacts. Based on the current forecast, our concern level remains very low.”