A disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico, known as Potential Tropical Cyclone Six, is forecast to strengthen into a tropical storm on Monday (September 9) and could become a hurricane before it reaches the U.S. Gulf Coast by midweek. The storm is currently located about 300 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Rio Grande and is moving north-northwest. It is expected to move offshore of the northern Gulf of Mexico through Tuesday and approach the Louisiana and upper Texas coastline on Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center’s early Monday advisory.
Tropical storm watches are in effect for northeastern Mexico and southern Texas. The storm, which will be named Francine if it strengthens into a tropical storm , is expected to bring heavy rain and trigger flash flooding along the coast of northeast Mexico, southern Texas, southern Louisiana, and southern Mississippi into Thursday morning.
The storm’s potential for life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds “are increasing for portions of the Louisiana and Upper Texas coastlines beginning Tuesday night,” the weather service said.