Tropical System in the Gulf Could Become a Record-Setting Storm

Tropical Depression Three, which formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday, is forecast to intensify into a tropical storm in the coming hours, setting a record and could reach the US by next week.

Tropical depression 3 in Gulf could become tropical storm in coming hours, setting a record

Tropical Depression Three could soon develop into tropical storm Cristobal, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Some forecasts with are predicting this development will occur within the coming hours. Nonetheless, if this depression develops into a tropical storm by Friday, June 5, it will be the earliest C-named storm to develop since such records began in 1851.

System is expected to cause disastrous weather in Mexico

Tropical Depression Three is forecast to cause deadly flash flooding in parts of southern Mexico and Central America. The slow-moving storm is expected to hover over these areas and produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides.

Where is the storm now and when will it reach the US?

As of Tuesday morning, Tropical Depression Three was located in the southern area of the Gulf of Mexico, in the Bay of Campeche. The storm had sustained winds of 35 miles per hour and was moving very slowly at about 2 mph.

As for where the storm is headed, it’s still a bit early to say when or where it will impact the US and exactly what that impact might be, but here are some early projections (not official forecasts), but most models show the storm arriving Sunday or Monday of next week.

Forecast models

Scenario #1: The current European model suggests the system becoming a tropical storm with the center reaching the middle of the Gulf of Mexico by 1 AM Sunday morning with sustained winds of 65 miles per hour. This model predicts the storm making landfall at the Texas/Louisiana border by early Monday.

Scenario #2: The current American model, the global forecast system (GFS) is similar to the European model, but predicts landfall squarely across the entire coast of Louisiana on Sunday.

Other possibilities: In addition to the two scenarios above, the storm could also drift eastward having an impact on Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

Rainfall predictions: The National Weather Service (NWS) shows the potential tropical storm bringing rainfall estimates between 2-6 inches spanning over parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

5 things you need right now to be prepared

If you live in any of the states mentioned above, you should start preparing now. You need to have a weather emergency kit ready to go.

There are five things you need to have on hand in your disaster preparedness kit for any type of weather emergency, whether it’s a tornado, flooding, or a winter storm.

Five things you need to have in your weather emergency kit:

• Bottled water. One gallon per day for each person and per pet. Have at least a 3-5 day supply. You may want to fill up your bathtub as a source of storing extra water (unless you need to shelter in your bathtub in the case of a tornado).

• Food. At least a 3-5 day supply of canned food and dry goods that don’t need refrigeration, plus food for your pet. Make sure you have hand-powered can opener.

• Medications & first-aid kit. Make sure to have a 2-week supply, as well as medications you may need in case of emergencies such as over-the-counter pain medications and antiseptics, as well as bandages and preferably first-aid kit.

• Flashlight, radio and batteries. Make sure you have a flashlight and a battery-powered or hand-crank powered weather radio. Also make sure to have plenty of extra batteries.

• A cell phone. A cell phone is vital. With landline- or Internet-based phones, if the power goes out or lines go down, you’ll be unable to call for help in the case of emergency, as well as keep in contact with others. Start searching for the cheapest phone plans now.

Some government-based plans may cost as little as 20 dollars per month or lower. Make sure to have an extra battery-based phone charger that can recharge your cellphone or smartphone without electricity.