Tropical Depression Forming In Gulf Of Mexico?

We are on the up hill climb to peak of the Atlantic Hurricane season.Over the years Louisiana has known the troubles late August storms can cause. We all remember Katrina and most of us remember Andrew too. There have been other August storms that have affected our lives too. Could there be another one brewing in the Gulf of Mexico this morning?

To look at a radar scan from the National Weather Service in Lake Charles you would first notice the impressive thunderstorms along the coast line and the coastal parishes. That is not the system that shows the greatest threat for development. That is part a low pressure system that should stay offshore for the most part as it moves its way to the west. The National Hurricane Center isn't even focused on this area of storms for development but it could bring some rain for your Sunday afternoon.

The area of greater concern is in the far southwest Gulf of Mexico. More commonly known as the Bay of Campeche this part of the Gulf is very warm and currently a tropical low pressure system is spinning over those extremely warm waters. The Hurricane Center gives this system a 60% chance of becoming a tropical cyclone over the next 48 hours. If it does reach tropical storm status, the name would be Fernand.

The good news about this system is the forecast models suggest the track of the storm will remain on a westerly course and should take it into the mountains of Mexico. Some of the models are suggest the storm could emerge into the Pacific and might regenerate there.