Tropical system could reach Texas Gulf Coast on anniversary of Hurricane Harvey
A tropical system has the potential to batter Texas next week, on the three-year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey making landfall.
Tropical Depression 14 is forecast to reach the Gulf Coast after 2 p.m. Tuesday. Tropical storm-force winds could come as early as Monday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center.
“Some strengthening is anticipated while it moves northwestward over the central Gulf of Mexico early next week, but it is too soon to know exactly how strong it will get or the location and magnitude of impacts it will produce along the central or northwestern Gulf Coast,” officials said in their 11 a.m. ET update.
The system could bring rain and hazardous beach conditions to South Texas, the National Weather Service’s Brownsville office posted Friday morning on Twitter.
“Risks for life-threatening rip currents and tidal flooding at local beaches will increase next week due to increased Gulf Swell,” the weather service said.
The system is heading for Louisiana and Texas, with the potential to strike either or both exactly three years after Hurricane Harvey reached the coast.
The Category 4 storm first made landfall on Aug. 25, 2017, near Port Aransas, Texas, records show. Harvey moved slowly, leading to flooding in the Houston area and bringing record-rainfall of up to 50 inches to some places.
Tropical Depression 14 was about 255 miles southeast of Cozumel, Mexico, as of Friday afternoon. It packed maximum sustained winds of 35 mph on its path to the northwest, according to the forecast.
The system could become Tropical Storm Marco, the earliest M named storm in the history of Atlantic hurricane seasons, The Weather Channel said.
”The system could be near hurricane strength when it reaches the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico late Saturday,” forecasters said. “Additional strengthening is forecast Sunday and Monday as the system moves over the central Gulf of Mexico.”
Tropical Depression 14 could pack hurricane-strength 75 mph winds as it makes its way through the Gulf of Mexico early Monday. Winds are expected to weaken by the time the system gets closer to the coast on Tuesday morning.
The conditions are expected as another tropical system aims for the Gulf Coast.
Tropical Depression 13, which was upgraded Friday morning to Tropical Storm Laura, is tracking further to the east, possibly reaching Mississippi and surrounding states by Wednesday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center. Officials said it could hit the region with storm surge, rain and wind.
If the systems develop into hurricanes, they would be the first to reach the Gulf at the same time, according to meteorologist Jason Dunning with WBBH in Florida.
Two hurricanes in close proximity can create the potential for a phenomenon known as the Fujiwhara effect. The storms usually end up coming together into one large one, according to the National Weather Service.
This story was originally published August 21, 2020 at 3:46 PM.
