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Potential Tropical Cyclone Six was headed toward the Lower Rio Grande Valley and lower Texas coast Monday morning and expected to bring heavy rains and strong winds, though it was not expected to make landfall here, according to the National Weather Service Brownsville-RGV station.
As of 4 a.m. Monday, the tropical system was located in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico approximately 310 miles south-southeast of South Padre Island and moving north-northwest at about 5 mph.
“Potential Tropical Cyclone Six is forecast to strengthen into a tropical storm today as it gradually takes on a more northerly track while remaining offshore,” NWS advised Monday. “Over the next few days, this system is expected to further develop into a hurricane as it takes a more northeasterly track and picks up forward speed before eventually making landfall … Wednesday night over the western coast of Louisiana.”
Locally, the greatest impacts from the system likely will be confined to Cameron, Willacy and Kenedy counties and lower Texas coastal waters.
Overall, the greatest impacts from this tropical system will likely be confined to the three immediate coastal counties (Cameron, Willacy, Kenedy) and the lower Texas coastal waters, forecasters predicted.
A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the coastal and island portions of Cameron and Willacy counties, the Laguna Madre from Port Mansfield to the mouth of the Rio Grande, and Gulf waters from 0 to 60 nautical miles offshore from Port Mansfield to the mouth of the Rio Grande, NWS said
A Tropical Storm Watch was also in effect for Gulf waters from 20 to 60 nautical miles offshore from Port Mansfield to Baffin Bay, and a Flood Watch was in effect for Cameron, Willacy and Kenedy counties. The most significant impacts from the tropical system along the lower Texas coast are likely to be strong winds, heavy rain in some areas, flash flooding, and storm surge at beaches. These impacts are likely to be felt between Monday morning and around sunrise Wednesday, according to NWS.
Forecasters warned that storm-force winds and rough, high waves will make it extremely difficult for small watercraft and cause significant damage to items above deck as well as to the craft itself.
“Small craft must remain in port,” they said. “Larger vessels and ships should prepare for high difficulty and consider diverting to safer locations away from the lower Texas coast. The public is strongly advised to remain out of the surf and off the beach.”
Conditions were favorable Monday and Tuesday for the formation of waterspouts, NWS said.
Inland, isolated to scattered power outages are likely, as is minor tree damage and roof damage to poorly constructed structures, forecasters said.
“Total rainfall of two to three inches over a couple hours in poor drainage areas of the Rio Grande Valley will result in one to two feet of water depth and nuisance flooding,” according to NWS. “Total rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches with locally higher amounts of 8 to 10 inches are possible for Cameron, Willacy and Kenedy counties, leading to localized flash flooding.”
NWS said it would provide further updates Monday afternoon and evening.
