Will a weather disturbance in the Caribbean Sea affect Houston? – Houston Chronicle

ORIGINAL STORY: A disturbance in the Caribbean Sea is expected to become a tropical depression or tropical storm later this week or over the weekend.

Its too soon to know if this storm will affect Houston, but forecasters urged area residents to be prepared.

FORECAST: This season's hurricane forecast from NOAA just got a little bit worse

Although track details remain highly uncertain, it is important for all to review hurricane preparedness plans and kits now, according to an email from the National Weather Services Houston/Galveston office. Also, please stay weather aware over the coming days as the forecast evolves.

According to the National Hurricane Centers 1 p.m. update, the system is expected to move over the northwestern Caribbean Sea and near or across the Yucatn Peninsula of Mexico on Friday. It could then move into the Gulf of Mexico this weekend, where conditions are expected to be favorable for additional development.

Regardless of this systems development, portions of Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and the Yucatn Peninsula could receive heavy rainfall and flooding through the weekend. The coasts of Louisiana, Texas and the Mexican state of Tamaulipas could see storm surge, wind and heavy rainfall late this weekend and early next week.

As of Wednesday afternoon, meteorologists were watching a disturbance in the Caribbean Sea. A tropical depression or tropical storm could form late this week or over the weekend. It is too soon to know if the Houston area will be affected.

Exactly where these impacts will occur will depend strongly on track and this remains highly uncertain since the system has yet to form, the National Weather Services Houston/Galveston office said.

There have been eight named storms in the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting 15 to 21 named storms this year. Between seven and 10 of those could become hurricanes and three to five could be major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher.

Wednesday marked the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Harvey making landfall in Texas, a storm that would bring catastrophic flooding to the Houston region.

This article has been updated with the correct date, Aug. 25, 2017, that Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas.

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Will a weather disturbance in the Caribbean Sea affect Houston? - Houston Chronicle