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Tropical Depression Nine forms in the Atlantic on track to be first dangerous hurricane of the season
Tropical Depression Nine has formed off the coast of Mexico in the Gulf of America, and forecasts show it will be the Atlantic's first hurricane this season, making a dangerous landfall threat to the U.S.
The system is currently getting better organized, and the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said it is forecast to be a tropical storm on Wednesday and a hurricane on Thursday.
The NHC said the system is likely to be a Category 2 hurricane by Friday night, with estimated winds at 100 mph.
It will be named Isaias.
A tropical depression has maximum sustained winds of 38 mph or less, and unlike tropical storms and hurricanes, tropical depressions are identified with numbers and not names.
The depression is moving toward the east near 5 mph.
The Hurricane Hunters on Tuesday afternoon are measuring the size of the storm, gathering crucial data for forecasters to help predict the severity of its impacts.
Tropical Depression Nine's forecast cone shows it heading directly toward the southern U.S., with impacts centered over Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle.
On the forecast track, the depression is expected to pass to the north of the Yucatan Peninsula on Thursday, and approach the U.S. northern Gulf Coast on Friday.
NOAA's Weather Prediction Center (WPC) has issued a Level 2 out of 4 flash flood risk for parts of the Southeast on Friday and Saturday.
Meanwhile, Gulf water temperatures are currently at their warmest levels on record dating back to 1982. Warm waters are conducive for tropical development.
September ended without a hurricane for the first time in 32 years, despite it being the climatological peak of the season.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.
This story is developing. Check back frequently for updates.
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