Tropical Threat In The Gulf Likely
It looks like our respite from named tropical systems in the Atlantic Basin is about to be over. An area of disturbed weather just off the coast of Honduras in Central America will likely become a tropical depression in the very near future. There is also speculation that this system will be earning the name Nate as a tropical storm by this weekend.
The broad area of low-pressure is scheduled to be investigated by Hurricane Hunter aircraft later today. Depending on what the data from those flights indicate the system could be designated as a tropical depression. The National Hurricane Center is suggesting the probability of that happening is 70% over the next 48 hours.
Forecasters believe the system will track to the north or northwest over the next several days. This would put the storm system in the southern Gulf of Mexico over the weekend.
Tropical forecast models at this time are suggesting a likely impact along the northern Gulf Coast sometime next week. As of this morning's model run the area most likely to be impacted would be from the New Orleans area eastward through the Big Bend of Florida.
Remember these models are far from accurate when extrapolated over this much time. Use that information for planning purposes only. We suggest you check back with us often over the next several days for the latest on this system and its potential track.