Tropical disturbance could bring flooding to Texas, Louisiana

A tropical disturbance being monitored in the northwestern Gulf could bring heavy rain and flash flooding to parts of Texas and Louisiana next week, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). It has a low chance of becoming a tropical system.

The system is a trough of low pressure over northeastern Mexico, where it was producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Forecasters said development is not expected during the next day or so while the system remains inland and drifts north over northeastern Mexico or southern Texas.

The disturbance is forecast to move northeast and could re-emerge over the northwestern Gulf late Tuesday or Wednesday, where conditions may support some development around the middle of the week.

The National Hurricane Center gave the system a near-zero chance of formation through the next 48 hours and a 30 percent chance of formation through the next seven days.

Regardless of whether it develops, forecasters said heavy rainfall and flash flooding are possible across portions of eastern and southern Texas and Louisiana this week.

The system is the same area of disturbed weather that forecasters began monitoring last week near the Bay of Campeche, along the southern Gulf coast of Mexico.

No named storms have formed so far in the Atlantic this season, which began on June 1 and runs through November 30.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting a below-normal Atlantic hurricane season, with 8 to 14 named storms, including 3 to 6 hurricanes and 1 to 3 major hurricanes.