Newly formed Tropical Storm Delta could make landfall as a hurricane in the northern Gulf Coast later this week, forecasters warned, while Tropical Storm Gamma killed at least six people after coming ashore in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula over the weekend.
The National Hurricane Center upgraded a tropical depression to Tropical Storm Delta Monday morning. The storm, which was located 135 miles south of Jamaica Monday morning, is currently on track to reach the Gulf Coast as a hurricane around Friday.
"Strengthening is expected during the next few days," the Hurricane Center said, warning that Delta could develop into a hurricane by Tuesday.
Once it approaches the Gulf Coast, "there is a risk of dangerous storm surge, wind and rainfall hazards along the coast from Louisiana to the western Florida Panhandle," the Hurricane Center added.
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Randy Adkins said that "residents across the Gulf Coast from southeast Texas to Florida should be prepared for a potential hurricane landfall at the end of the week or early next weekend."