Churning in Gulf, Tropical Storm Katia threatens eastern Mexico
While mega-Hurricane Irma and Tropical Storm José continue advancing toward and through the Caribbean Sea, a third potentially dangerous storm has formed in the Gulf of Mexico. Although it threatens to bring high winds and flooding to Veracruz and other eastern Mexican states, it may only contribute to continuing heavy rains in the Yucatan Peninsula….
Story Highlights:
–Tropical Storm Katia has formed in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.
–Katia could eventually attain hurricane strength before making landfall.
–Heavy rainfall and gusty winds will be possible in eastern Mexico late week into this weekend.
Tropical Storm Katia has formed in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico about 105 miles east of Tampico, Mexico.
Additional strengthening is possible over the next few days, as wind shear is expected to relax and it could become a hurricane before making landfall in eastern Mexico by this weekend.
Current Storm Status / weather.com
The highest cloud tops, corresponding to the most vigorous convection, are shown in the brightest red colors. Clustering, deep convection around the center is a sign of a healthy tropical cyclone.
Katia is not expected to move much over the next few days.
An area of high pressure located over the southern Rockies and southern Plains will keep Katia trapped to the south, but will eventually shunt it eastward and southward toward the Mexican coast.
Projected Path / weather.com
The red-shaded area denotes the potential path of the center of the tropical cyclone. Note that impacts (particularly heavy rain, high surf, coastal flooding) with any tropical cyclone may spread beyond its forecast path.
The main threats in eastern Mexico will be heavy rainfall capable of flash flooding and mudslides, as well as gusty winds. The amount of rain and strength of the winds will depend on the exact track the system takes in the days ahead.
“The system will likely end up moving inland over the northern coast of southeastern Mexico sometime late this week or this weekend,” AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski said.
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