Potential Tropical Cyclone One, a developing storm system over the Gulf of Mexico, is set to bring a flooding threat along the Texas Coast through midweek. This is according to the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC), which warned that not only the storm will impact South Texas but also northeastern Mexico and large portions of Central America with life-threatening flooding and mudslides this week.
The hurricane center advises the public not to focus on the exact weather forecast issued at 10:00 p.m. CDT (local time) on Tuesday, June 18. This is because the disturbance can be unpredictable and brings various weather hazards like heavy rain, coastal flooding, and wind impacts. These hazards are likely to occur along the coasts of Texas and northeastern Mexico. Regional travel disruptions are also expected in the coming hours.
Meanwhile, for southern Texas, the National Weather Service (NWS) office in College Park, Maryland, warns that Potential Tropical Cyclone One can bring a combination of flash flooding, urban flooding, and river flooding due to significant heavy rain. There are no evacuation orders reported yet, but previous hurricanes across the region in recent years have resulted in fatalities, especially in Central America.
Potential Tropical Cyclone One
(Photo : Photo by NOAA)
In an updated weather advisory at 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 19, the NHC warned that the developing storm system, named Potential Tropical Cyclone One, will produce significant flash flooding and urban flooding, as well as new and renewed river flooding. The impact regions will include South Texas, northeastern Mexico, and large portions of Central America, as mentioned earlier.
The looming tropical cyclone is located over the western Gulf of Mexico, off the eastern coast of Mexico. It is moving at a speed of 8 miles per hour in a north-westward pattern, bringing maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour. On Wednesday, the cyclone is expected to bring tropical storm conditions along the Texas coast, south of San Luis Pass and its adjacent coastal area with northeastern Mexico.
Potential Tropical Cyclone One is also forecasted to intensify as a tropical storm on Wednesday and impact the region through Thursday, June 20. In Mexico, potential deadly flooding and landslides are likely in high-elevation areas in the states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas, according to the NHC.
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Flooding Threat
Potential Tropical Cyclone One has contributed to multiple casualties across Central America, including 11 fatalities in El Salvador and three in Guatemala, where the victims drowned while crossing an overflowing river on Monday, June 17. In El Salvador, the mortalities were reported over the past week, according to local authorities. Both countries closed schools amid the adverse weather.
Aside from the lingering tropical cyclone, a weather system is also present along the Pacific coast of Guatemala, contributing to saturated rainfall across southern Mexico and Central America. The NWS' Weather Prediction Center, on Wednesday, also warned that Potential Tropical Cyclone One is projected to move onshore and further inland across South Texas.
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