An area of low pressure that hurricane forecasters expect to form in the Gulf of Mexico over the weekend is likely to bring strong storms to western Florida over the next few days, said Friday.
Officials are monitoring an area in the eastern Gulf that now spans from the southeastern coast of Louisiana across the eastern coast of Florida. The system, which is already bringing thunderstorms to the Tampa area, has a 30% chance of further formation in the next 7 days and a 10% chance of developing further in the next 2 days.
It is expected to move northward in the coming days.
The disturbance is one of two that NHC forecasters are tracking. Another area of low pressure in the Atlantic near Cabo Verde is producing heavy showers and strong winds, but is not expected to develop further.
The system is not an immediate threat to Louisiana, according to National Weather Service New Orleans forecasters, but it could bring locally heavy rainfall to the eastern Gulf Coast. Southeast portions of the Louisiana are already are expected to see persistent heat over the next several days, and heat indices could be in the 100s.
NWS forecasters encouraged residents in Louisiana and Mississippi to stayed tuned to the latest forecasts, especially those with vacation plans on the Florida Gulf Coast.
If either disturbance develops into a named storm, it would be the second of the 2026 season. Tropical Storm Arthur soaked part of the Gulf Coast last month.
Hurricane and climate forecasters have predicted of storms for this hurricane season thanks the expected arrival of an intense El Nino.