Potential Storm 2 and a Train of Waves

As of Wednesday morning, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began issuing advisories on Potential Tropical Cyclone #2. This is a big term for a storm in the makings. They do this so they can start providing warnings to areas that may not have that much time to prepare once it fully develops.

The center of this system remains about one hundred miles southeast of the Mouth of the Mississippi River. The winds are not that big an issue at the moment, but the rainfall is and will continue to be.

Where is it headed?

Over the next few days it will meander over the Gulf slowly getting stronger. It could become Tropical Storm Barry on Thursday. By the weekend it could reach hurricane status just before making landfall anywhere in the area highlighted red. Between New Orleans to the East and Houston to the West.  It will then continue its trek northward across the Mississippi River Valley.

Watches and Warnings

From New Orleans west to Grand Isle, there is a Tropical Storm Watch in effect. From Grand Isle west to Cameron Louisiana, a Hurricane Watch is already in place. These may get elevated to Warnings by Thursday afternoon.

Heavy Rain Expected

Models are calling for the potential of excessive rainfall for coastal Louisiana by Friday. But as the storm moves inland, the threat will go north as well over the weekend.

These are the forecast totals over 7 days for the region. Baton Rough and Morgan City could get up to 2 feet of rain. This will surely lead to dangerous flooding.

Storm Surge

Another danger will be the storm surge or the wall of water that comes on-shore as the system is moving in-land. The rise in water could be up to 5 feet, higher if it arrives during high tide.

A Train of Waves

In other tropical news, there are 5 waves in the Atlantic Basin. All of which are being impacted by Saharan Dust. This dust makes it almost impossible for them to grow as they are starved for moisture.  Some of this dust may arrive on Thursday across South Florida making for hazy skies. That could stay through the weekend.

We'll be watching