A tropical storm is forming over the western Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday morning. The low pressure system is currently designated as Potential Tropical Cyclone One. At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Potential Tropical Cyclone One was located at latitude 22.7°N and longitude 94.3°W which put it about 235 miles (380 km) east-southeast of La Pesca, Mexico and about 295 miles (475 km) southeast of Brownsville, Texas. The low pressure system was moving toward the west-northwest at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 997 mb.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from San Luis Pass, Texas to Puerto de Altamira, Mexico. The Tropical Storm Warning includes Corpus Christi and Brownsville, Texas.
A low pressure system over the western Gulf of Mexico, currently designated as Potential Tropical Cyclone One, on Wednesday morning is beginning to develop a structure more like a tropical cyclone. Thunderstorms are staring to develop near the center of the low pressure system. A band of thunderstorms wraps around the southern and eastern side of Potential Tropical Cyclone One. Other bands of showers and thunderstorms are revolving around the middle of the low pressure system.
The distribution of winds around Potential Tropical Cyclone One is still asymmetrical. The winds near the middle of the low pressure system are relatively weak. The strongest winds are occurring in a band of thunderstorms about 400 miles (645 km) north of the middle of Potential Tropical Cyclone One. Some of the winds in that band of storms are blowing at tropical storm force. An anemometer at Garden Banks 783 (KGBK) is measuring a sustained wind speed of 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and wind gusts of 50 m.p.h (80 km/h). The anemometer is at a height of 58.2 meters above sea level. The winds in the rest of the low pressure system are blowing at less than tropical storm force.
The low pressure system will move through an environment favorable for the development of a tropical cyclone during the next 24 hours. Potential Tropical Cyclone One will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C. It will move under the the center of an upper level ridge over the western Gulf of Mexico. The upper level winds are weak near the center of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Potential Tropical Cyclone One is forecast to develop into a tropical storm during the next 24 hours. In order to be classified as a tropical cyclone, a distinct low level center of circulation will have to form. Thunderstorms will have to develop and to persist near the low level center. The strongest winds will need to occur near the low level center of circulation in order for Potential Tropical Cyclone One to be classified as a tropical storm.
Potential Tropical Cyclone One will move south of a strong high pressure system over the eastern U.S. The strong high pressure system will block Potential Tropical Cyclone One and the high pressure system will prevent the low pressure system from moving toward the north. The high pressure system will steer the low pressure system toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Potential Tropical Cyclone One could approach the coast of northern Mexico and southern Texas on Wednesday evening. The center of the low pressure system is likely to make landfall between Tampico and La Pesca, Mexico
Potential Tropical Cyclone One is likely to be a tropical storm when it approaches the coast. The low pressure system will produce gusty winds along the coast of Texas and northern Mexico. Potential Tropical Cyclone One will also drop heavy rain on parts of northern Mexico and southern Texas. Up to 12 inches (300 mm) of rain could fall on parts of south Texas. Flood Watches were in effect for parts of South Central, Southeast and South Texas. Up to 20 inches (500 mm) of rain could fall on parts of northern Mexico where the winds blow the air up the slopes of mountains.
Potential Tropical Cyclone One will cause a storm surge of up to four feet (one meter) where the winds blow the water toward the coast. The water is already causing some flooding along parts of the coast of Texas.