Tropical depression soon to form; likely to strengthen and move west

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A tropical depression is likely to form late Wednesday or on Thursday.

As of 8 p.m. Wednesday, a broad area of low pressure was located about 115 miles southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. Hurricane Hunter aircraft went up to investigate the area Wednesday afternoon.

The National Hurricane Center is now referring to the system as Potential Tropical Cyclone Two – which signifies the expectation of a tropical storm forming and affecting land areas within 48 hours.

Models are in very good agreement that this disturbance will move west toward Louisiana/Texas over the next two to three days, before making a northward turn. Current guidance leaves little question that Tropical Storm Barry will form, but how much it will intensify thereafter remains to be seen.

We should get a better idea of this once recon gathers more data and an actual system forms. It should be noted that the current forecast from the National Hurricane Center intensifies this into a Category 1 hurricane.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the mouth of the Mississippi River to Cameron, Louisiana, indicating that hurricane conditions are possible within 48 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect from the mouth of Mississippi River northward to the mouth of the Pearl River, meaning that tropical storm conditions are possible within 48 hours.

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for the mouth of the Pearl River to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, which means there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the coastline during the next 48 hours.

It's important to note that regardless of intensity, the main threat from this is going to be heavy rainfall that will likely lead to flooding in some areas of the central and western Gulf Coast.

LINK: Interests in these areas should monitor the progress of this storm closely and check back in with us here at MyFoxHurricane.com.