Chance Gulf disturbance could form depression increases. What South MS needs to know

A disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico could grow stronger over the next week, forecasters said Thursday, and marks the first potential threat in what scientists have warned will be an extraordinary and active hurricane season.

The disturbance was in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico on Friday and is not on track to reach South Mississippi.

The system appears headed to northern Mexico and Texas but could bring moisture to south Louisiana early next week, meteorologist Rick Knabb said a video posted by The Weather Channel.

There is a 50 percent chance the system will form a tropical depression in the next week, forecasters said Friday morning. That was an increase from Thursday, when forecasters said there was a 40 percent chance of development within seven days.

There is still a near zero chance of development within 48 hours, the NWS said.

It is expected to grow into a broad area of low pressure this weekend or early next week, the National Hurricane Center said.

The system is currently moving slowly to the west and northwest, forecasters said.

Forecasters are also tracking a system that is producing showers and thunderstorms off the Florida coast, but the disturbance is headed away from the United States and has only a 20 percent chance of formation within seven days, according to the NWS.

The systems are the first of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which federal officials warned last month would be an “above average” season with 17 to 25 named storms in the Atlantic.

This story was originally published June 13, 2024 at 11:22 AM.