NHC Tracks Invest 90L as Gulf Low Pressure Threatens Life-Threatening Flooding in Texas

Forecasters are tracking a low-pressure system over northeastern Mexico that the National Hurricane Center says could re-emerge over the northwestern Gulf of America late Tuesday or Wednesday, with environmental conditions “marginally conducive for the formation of a short-lived tropical storm on Wednesday into Thursday.”

“A stream of tropical moisture, including the remnants of Tropical Storm Cristina, will bring a serious heavy rain and flash flood threat for Gulf Coast states”

CNN

KATC says the main threat is heavy rain, with rainfall likely to produce “up to 5-10" of rain or more, primarily Tuesday through Thursday,” and highest rainfall rates “may approach 3-4" per hour.”

CNN

The National Hurricane Center has upgraded the potential system to a medium chance of development through Thursday, “near 50%,” and KATC warns that regardless of tropical cyclone formation, interests across southern and eastern Texas and portions of Louisiana and Mississippi should prepare for “widespread, life-threatening flash, urban, and river flooding.”

KRIS 6 News Corpus Christi reports that the NHC is monitoring Invest 90L and that the chance of tropical development is “40% over the next 48 hours and 50% over the next 7 days,” with formation possible Wednesday into Thursday and a possible name of Arthur if a tropical storm develops.

USA Today says forecasters upped the odds for a potential storm’s development to 50% within the next several days, citing the National Hurricane Center and warning that a tropical disturbance will contribute to heavy rain and numerous flash floods across the Gulf Coast and South this week.

USA Today quotes the Weather Prediction Center saying “any storms that develop in this environment (will have) an almost unnatural ability to produce heavy rain,” and it also cites the hurricane center warning that “regardless of tropical cyclone formation, interests across southern and eastern Texas and portions of Louisiana and Mississippi should prepare for periods of intense rainfall.”

Eye on the Tropics

WINK News quotes WINK News Meteorologist Lauren Kreidler saying environmental conditions over the Gulf will only be marginally supportive of tropical cyclone development, while still describing a possibility that the system could briefly organize into a short-lived tropical storm between Wednesday and Thursday.

FOX 26 Houston says the NHC puts the chances of cyclone formation at “40% over the next 48 hours and 50% over the next seven days,” and it warns that Tropical Storm Watches or Warnings may be required as early as Tuesday.

FOX Weather says some localized areas could see as much as 18 inches of precipitation this week, and it warns that “Flash flooding is putting millions at risk from Texas to Georgia.”

“HOUSTON - There is a weather disturbance over northeastern Mexico that carries a 50% chance of developing into a tropical cyclone over the next week, according to an update from the National Hurricane Center on Monday”

FOX 26 Houston

FOX Weather reports that Flood Watches are in effect across South Texas, the middle and upper Texas coasts, much of Louisiana and western Mississippi, and it adds that “Overall, widespread rainfall totals of 5 to 8 inches are likely from southern Texas to Alabama.”

In Houston, the City of Houston has activated preparedness measures, with Houston Public Works officials “lowering Lake Houston, staging barricades at flood-prone locations and preparing dump trucks,” and the Houston Office of Emergency Management activating the City’s Emergency Operations Center at 8 a.m. Monday.

FOX Weather also says Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to mobilize additional state emergency response resources and transition the Texas State Emergency Operations Center into “around-the-clock, 24-hour operations,” as the National Hurricane Center requests reconnaissance flights into the Gulf of America disturbance with an initial mission scheduled for Wednesday, June 17.