The tropical low pressure system over the Bay of Campeche has a 70 percent chance of development into a depression or Tropical Storm Claudette over the next 48 hours, the National Hurricane Center says.
Their forecasters give it a 90 percent chance of development over the next five days.
The system is barely moving now, but that is expected to change.
"The system should begin to move northward on Thursday, and a tropical depression is likely to form by late Thursday or on Friday when the low moves across the western Gulf of Mexico," said National Hurricane Center Senior Hurricane Specialist Dr. Robert Pasch. "An Air Force Reserve Unit reconnaissance aircraft is scheduled to investigate the area on Thursday."
Heavy rains are expected to blanket the northern Gulf of Mexico even if the system doesn't develop.
Wednesday evening - The Gulf low pressure area will likely develop into a depression or storm by Thursday night or Friday as it nudges north. Impacts start late Friday for Gulf Coast, including heavy rain, strong east winds, coastal flooding and possibly a few tornado spin-ups. pic.twitter.com/o4OQ31tEvb
— Alexandra Cranford WWL-TV (@alexandracranfo) June 16, 2021



