Tropical Storm Cristobal could impact Mississippi Coast. Here’s what the forecast says
The Mississippi Gulf Coast could see its first named storm of the 2020 hurricane season this weekend.
Tropical Storm Cristobal stalled over Mexico and Guatemala on Wednesday, causing potentially deadly flooding and mudslides, but the storm is expected to head north into the Gulf of Mexico on Friday, forecasts show. A flood watch also has been issued for portions of southeast Louisiana and Mississippi.
The National Hurricane Center forecasts Cristobal will make landfall for a second time somewhere between the East Texas coast and Alabama on Sunday.
It’s still too soon to know Cristobal’s track this weekend as it approaches the United States.
“There is a risk of storm surge, heavy rainfall, and wind impacts beginning over the weekend along portions of the U.S. Gulf Coast from Texas to the Florida Panhandle,” the Hurricane Center said.
As of Wednesday evening, Cristobal had maximum sustained winds at 50-mph and was moving southeast at about 3 mph, the Hurricane Center reported.
The storm is expected to continue its slow crawl over the Yucatan Peninsula until late Friday, and will likely be downgraded to a tropical depression. Cristobal is forecast to move offshore and pick up speed as it strengthens back to a Tropical Storm on its way north-northeast toward the Gulf Coast.
A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Campeche to Coatzacoalcos, Mexico, according to the agency.
In the U.S., people along the Gulf Coast, including Louisiana and Mississippi, can expect to see tropical storm force winds starting overnight Saturday or Sunday morning, the Hurricane Center reported.
Cristobal is the third named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. Two other named storms hit the east coast last month before the season officially began.
Forecasters have warned people on the East Coast and the Gulf to get ready for a busy hurricane season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warns the Atlantic will have between 13 and 19 named storms this season, well above average.
Flood watch issued
A flood watch is in effect for portions of southeast Louisiana and Mississippi through 7 a.m. on June 9, according to the National Weather Service.
“Tropical moisture streaming over the central Gulf Coast region partly from the circulation of Tropical Storm Cristobal will be capable of producing copious rainfall each day through the weekend into early next week,” according to forecasters.
The storm is expected to bring widespread rain to the region throughout the week and could range from to 2 to 4 inches per hour.
Periods of the heaviest rainfall could impact roadways, making them impassible and causing rapid rising in local creeks, the weather service reports. Drainage systems could also reach capacity.
This story was originally published June 3, 2020 at 2:31 PM.
