Riviera Maya, Q.R. — The system that soaked parts of Quintana Roo over the weekend has entered the Gulf of Mexico and is set to become a U.S.-bound hurricane. Since entering the Gulf, it has gained strength as predicted by the National Hurricane Centre (NOAA) last week.
Due to the dry air over the Atlantic, the system actually lost strength as it neared the Caribbean Sea. The wet weather system passed over the southern Yucatan Peninsula Friday and Saturday, leaving many areas wet.
Instead of a storm, a rain alert was issued Thursday ahead of its arrival by State Civil Protection of Quintana Roo who warned of the possibility of heavy rain for four days.
On Sunday, that system reached the Gulf of Mexico where it has since become Tropical Depression Six. According to the NOAA, Six is forecast to gain hurricane strength as it heads north toward the coasts of Texas and Louisiana.
The NOAA says Six is expected to quickly turn into a tropical storm (Francine) that will likely gain hurricane strength by mid-week with Wednesday being the current predicted day for a possible category 1 before making landfall along the Texas-Louisiana border.
In their current forecast, the NOAA reports “an elongated area of low pressure located over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico continues to produce a large area of showers and thunderstorms.
“Satellite-derived winds show this system does not yet have a well-defined center, but is producing winds of 40 to 45 mph on its western side. Environmental conditions appear conducive for additional development and a tropical storm is expected to form during the next day or so.
“The system is forecast to move generally northwestward and then northward near or along the Gulf coast of Mexico, upper Texas, and Louisiana coasts with additional strengthening possible by the middle of this week.
“Interests along the Gulf coast of Mexico, upper Texas, and Louisiana coasts should closely monitor the progress of this system. Tropical Storm Watches could be required for portions of the coast of northeastern Mexico and southern Texas later this afternoon or tonight, with additional watches possible along the coast of Texas and Louisiana later tonight or Monday.
The NOAA is currently monitoring three systems in the Atlantic. The other two are forecast for further development in coming days. A possible trajectory for the second and third system has yet to be defined.
