The northern part of a tropical wave is interacting with a surface
trough over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. The merger of these
features is producing a large but disorganized area of showers and
thunderstorms over the western Caribbean Sea, Central America, the
Yucatan peninsula, and Gulf of Mexico. Environmental conditions are
expected to be conducive for gradual development over the weekend,
and a tropical depression is likely to form on Sunday or Monday
before the system moves near or onshore of the western Gulf of
Mexico coast. Regardless of development, this disturbance is
expected to produce heavy rain across portions of Central America
and the Yucatan Peninsula through Saturday which may lead to flash
flooding and mudslides. By late this weekend, heavy rain will likely
reach portions of the western Gulf coast, including coastal Texas
and Louisiana through the middle of next week. Localized significant
rainfall amounts will be possible, resulting in limited flash and
urban flooding.
* Formation chance through 48 hours...medium...60 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...high...80 percent.