Tropical Storm Watch issued for parts of Texas coast as area of low pressure churns in Bay of Campeche
The National Hurricane Center has begun issuing advisories on an area of low pressure, designated Potential Tropical Cyclone 1, which is currently located in the Bay of Campeche.
Tropical Track this week (2024 KPRC2)
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A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued along the Texas coast from Port O‘Connor southward to the mouth of the Rio Grande.
Tropical watches (2024 KPRC2)
A Tropical Storm Watch has also been issued for the Mexican coast south of the mouth of the Rio Grande to Boca de Catan.
Here is the current information on the system from the National Hurricane Center as of 4 p.m. Monday:
LOCATION...20.3N 93.2W
ABOUT 380 MI...615 KM SE OF LA PESCA MEXICO
ABOUT 470 MI...755 KM SE OF BROWNSVILLE TEXAS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...40 MPH...65 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNW OR 345 DEGREES AT 7 MPH...11 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1001 MB...29.56 INCHES
At 400 PM CDT (2100 UTC), the disturbance was centered near latitude 20.3 North, longitude 93.2 West. The system is moving toward the north-northwest near 7 mph (11 km/h) and this general motion is expected to continue through Tuesday. A turn toward the west-northwest is expected Tuesday night or Wednesday, and system is likely to approach the western Gulf coast late Wednesday. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Some slow strengthening is possible, and the disturbance is forecast to become a tropical storm by Wednesday.
* Formation chance through 48 hours...high...70 percent.
* Formation chance through 7 days...high...70 percent.
The disturbance is quite large with tropical-storm-force winds extending outward up to 290 miles (465 km) to the northeast of the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1001 mb (29.56 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
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RAINFALL: Potential Tropical Cyclone One is expected to produce rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches across northeast Mexico into South Texas, with maximum totals of 15 inches possible. This rainfall will likely produce flash and urban flooding along with new and renewed river flooding. Mudslides are also possible in areas of higher terrain across northeast Mexico. For a complete depiction of forecast rainfall and flash flooding associated with Potential Tropical Cyclone One, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml?rainqpf and the Flash Flood Risk graphic at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml?ero
STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...
Sargent, TX to Sabine Pass, TX...2-4 ft
Galveston Bay...2-4 ft
Mouth of the Rio Grande, TX to Sargent, TX...1-3 ft
Sabine Pass, TX to Vermilion/Cameron Parish Line, LA...1-3 ft
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the north of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. For a complete depiction of areas at risk of storm surge inundation, please see the National Weather Service Peak Storm Surge Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml?peakSurge. In Mexico, minor coastal flooding is possible north of where the center of the disturbance crosses the coast in areas of onshore winds.
WIND: Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area by Wednesday.
The next advisory from the National Hurricane Center will be at 10 p.m.