
Map Shows Where Hurricane Hunters Will Investigate New System
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Hurricane hunters plan to investigate a new system on the National Hurricane Center's (NHC) radar on Thursday afternoon.
Newsweek reached out to the NHC by email for comment.
Why It Matters
The Atlantic hurricane season began June 1 and runs through November 30. The NHC is tracking two systems in the Atlantic basin. One, Tropical Storm Erin, is set to become a hurricane later this week as it moves westward across the Atlantic toward the U.S.
The other is defined as a "broad area of low pressure" in the Bay of Campeche that has a low chance of strengthening into a tropical storm in the coming days. This is the system hurricane hunters will investigate.
A map shows where hurricane hunters will investigate a new disturbance in the Bay of Campeche.
A map shows where hurricane hunters will investigate a new disturbance in the Bay of Campeche.
National Hurricane Center
What To Know
"We are monitoring a broad area of low pressure over the Bay of Campeche that has a low chance of formation during the next couple of days," the NHC said on X. "This system is expected to move inland sometime Friday night into Saturday morning over NE Mexico or S Texas. Hurricane Hunters are scheduled to investigate the area this afternoon."
Hurricane hunters are aircrews that fly into a storm system to gather data.
As of the most recent update from the NHC, the system has a 20 percent chance of developing in the next 48 hours. Once the storm moves inland, its chances of strengthening into a tropical system will diminish.
"Regardless of development, locally heavy rainfall is possible along portions of northeastern Mexico and southern Texas over the next few days," the NHC said.
Meanwhile, the NHC also is tracking Tropical Storm Erin in the central tropical Atlantic. As of late morning on Thursday, Erin had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph, with higher gusts.
"Additional strengthening is forecast during the next day or so, and Erin is expected to become a hurricane on Friday," the NHC public advisory said. Erin could strengthen further into a major hurricane this weekend.
What People Are Saying
The NHC, in a forecast: "A broad area of low pressure located over the Bay of Campeche is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. The low is forecast to move west-northwestward across the southwestern Gulf during the next day or two, where environmental conditions are marginally conducive for further development. The system is expected to move inland over northeastern Mexico or southern Texas by late Friday, ending its chances of tropical cyclone formation."
AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva, in a report: "At this point in the hurricane season, everyone needs to be prepared. Make sure your emergency supplies are stocked up, review your safety plans and evacuation routes and check your insurance coverage."
What Happens Next
Meteorologists will continue to monitor the system as it develops. Regular updates on Tropical Storm Erin also will be issued.

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