At a Glance
- A Gulf of Mexico tropical disturbance has moved inland.
- It no longer has a chance to become a tropical depression.
- Regardless, the system will bring a threat of heavy rain to Texas and southwest Louisiana.
A Gulf of Mexico tropical disturbance no longer has a chance to become a tropical depression, but it will help fuel soaking rain in coastal Texas and southwest Louisiana on Friday.
The National Hurricane Center has been monitoring an area of low pressure in the northwest Gulf of Mexico for tropical development over the past few days. That disturbance has now moved into the Texas coast, ending its ability to organize and be deemed a tropical depression.
Even without developing, this disturbance will enhance rainfall on parts of the Texas and southwest Louisiana coasts through Friday.
This region is currently in moderate, severe or extreme drought, so this rainfall will be beneficial overall.
Despite the dry conditions in place, there is the possibility that heavy rain could cause localized flooding. The greatest chance of that happening appears to be from the upper Texas coast into southwest Louisiana through Friday.
Flood watches have been issued by the National Weather Service for the upper Texas coast, including Houston.
A broad area from the upper Texas coast into southwest Louisiana could see 1 to 3 inches of rain from this system. Localized much heavier totals of up to 5 inches or more are possible.
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