Weather forecasters are predicting heavy rainfall and increased likelihood of a tropical storm developing in Southeast Texas this week.
Following intermittent waves of severe weather in Texas, including a derecho in Houston, tornadoes in North Texas, as well as record-breaking hail in the state, forecasters expect that Texas will experience the first wave of hurricane season this week.
The National Weather Service recently reported a 70% chance of a tropical storm or depression forming in the Bay of Campeche in the next few days. The report, published June 16 at 2 pm, revealed a widespread area of gathering thunderstorms along the Yucatan Peninsula.
NWS states that conditions are likely for the system to drift west-northwestward up the Texas Coast leading to a probable tropical storm or, at the very least, moderate to heavy rainfall in Southeast Texas from Tuesday to Wednesday.
These reports are substantiated by other established forecasters. AccuWeather predicts that conditions will lead to a tropical depression then tropical storm just before landfall.
“Very warm waters in this area of the Gulf, as well as low wind shear will make this a conducive environment the tropical rainstorm to strengthen,” said Dan Pydynowski, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist.
As of now, the developing storm is nameless. However, should it bear sustained winds of at least 39 mph winds, it will be called “Alberto“. AccuWeather presently rates it as a 1 on the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale for Hurricanes.
The threat of the tropical storm will be evident in Houston from this morning to Thursday afternoon.
For this Monday, Houston is expected to experience mostly cloudy weather with the chance of occasional rainfall and a heavy thunderstorm. There is also the chance of extreme flash flooding in the area.
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