A cluster of thunderstorms that developed over the northern Gulf has evolved into Invest 97L, which is bringing heavy rain to the region. The system has a 50/50 chance of strengthening into a tropical depression as it moves toward the Texas and Louisiana coasts.
THE TAKEAWAY
- Invest 97L has a 50/50 chance of becoming a tropical depression.
- The disturbance began as a cluster of thunderstorms over the northern Gulf.
- The system is expected to reach the Texas or Louisiana coast late Monday or Tuesday.
The Gulf Coast is bracing for a stormy stretch as Invest 97L churns across the region, bringing a cluster of thunderstorms and heavy rain through Wednesday.
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The system is showing signs of organization, with forecasters giving it a 50/50 chance of strengthening into a tropical depression.
(FOX Weather)
The disturbance began as a cluster of thunderstorms over the northern Gulf after a dip in the jet stream over the weekend helped set the stage for its development. The cluster has since evolved into a small tropical disturbance.
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The system is currently trapped beneath a heat dome and high pressure system that is bringing hot weather to the Midwest. That high pressure system is expected to slowly nudge the disturbance toward the upper Texas coast.
(FOX Weather)
The National Hurricane Center said there is a 50/50 chance the system could develop into a tropical depression, noting that the warm Gulf waters and atmospheric conditions appear reasonably conducive for development.
An “invest” is a designation used by the National Hurricane Center to identify an area that is being investigated for potential development into a tropical depression or tropical storm within the next seven days.
Residents from Galveston, Texas, to southwestern Louisiana should closely monitor the forecast over the next couple of days in case the system develops more quickly than expected.
(FOX Weather)
Regardless of whether it strengthens into a tropical depression, the system is expected to reach the Texas or Louisiana coast late Monday or Tuesday, bringing the potential for heavy rain and thunderstorms.
Hurricane hunters are scheduled to investigate the disturbance early Monday morning, providing forecasters with additional data on the system’s strength and organization.
Satellite imagery of Invest 97L brewing in the Gulf.
(NHC / FOX Weather)
Small systems can sometimes spin up quickly in the northwestern Gulf, where the curvature of the coastline and extremely warm waters can contribute to rapid development, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
Stay with FOX Weather for the latest.
