Newly formed Potential Tropical Cyclone Six expected to rapidly intensify into hurricane threatening U.S. Gulf Coast

A disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm and possibly a hurricane before reaching the U.S. Gulf Coast by midweek. The storm, Potential Tropical Cyclone Six, is currently moving north-northwest and is forecasted to approach the Louisiana and upper Texas coastline on Wednesday. Tropical storm watches are in effect for northeastern Mexico and southern Texas. The storm is likely to bring heavy rain and trigger flash flooding along the coast of northeast Mexico, southern Texas, southern Louisiana, and southern Mississippi. The storm’s potential for life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds is increasing for portions of the Louisiana and Upper Texas coastlines. So far in the 2024 Atlantic storm season, there have been five named storms, with three becoming hurricanes. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year due to warm ocean temperatures, La Niña conditions in the Pacific, reduced Atlantic trade winds, and less wind shear. The next storm will be named Francine.

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