NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Hurricane forecasters say a tropical disturbance nearing the Gulf of Mexico has a 40 percent chance of developing into at least a tropical depression this week.
National Hurricane Center meteorologist Dennis Feltgen says if the system eventually strengthens into a tropical storm, it would be the first of the 2018 season and would be named “Alberto.”
The center’s current five-day outlook has the disturbance reaching the northern Gulf Coast this weekend somewhere between southeast Louisiana and Florida. That could mean a wet Memorial Day weekend in the New Orleans area and at Gulf Coast beaches in Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.
Scenario 1, shows the Euro model placing a subtropical or tropical system near Louisiana by Sunday. Plenty of rain for South Florida. pic.twitter.com/FQ2NE8DaNB
— Phil Ferro (@PhilFerro7) May 22, 2018
Scenario #2 shows the GFS model with the low entering the Gulf a bit later and taking whatever develops towards West Florida. More rain for South Florida. pic.twitter.com/BHF6WuQ1oB
— Phil Ferro (@PhilFerro7) May 22, 2018
Feltgen is urging residents to monitor the weather “because there will be flash flooding associated with this.”
The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins June 1.
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