Tropical Storm Cristobal has formed in Gulf of Mexico and may approach US by weekend
Tropical Storm Cristobal, already the third storm of this year's hurricane season, formed Tuesday afternoon off the coast of Mexico and could reach Texas, Louisiana or the Florida Panhandle by Friday or early next week, meteorologists say.
The storm began as a tropical depression with heavy rainfall and flooding over Mexico and Central America. The National Hurricane Center issued a public advisory soon after the storm moved through the Gulf, 150 miles from Campeche, Mexico, warning that increased rainfall, flooding and potential mudslides can be expected in southern Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.
It's the earliest date for the third named storm in the Atlantic on record, according to meteorologist Philip Klotzbach of Colorado State University. Hurricane season began Monday.
Cristobal comes days after Tropical Storm Amanda made landfall Sunday, killing 17 people in El Salvador and Guatemala.
On Tuesday, Cristobal reached 40 mph winds and is forecast to drop between 16 and 20 inches of rainfall. The storm is expected to remain in the Gulf of Mexico for the next 24 to 34 hours, according to AccuWeather senior meteorologist Paul Walker.
“It is starting to move northward up the coast,” Walker said. “If the storm reaches the United States, it will most likely impact southeast Texas and Louisiana, with the potential of reaching the Florida Panhandle, if it moves quickly." He said that could happen as early as Friday.
Hurricane seasons 2020: A busy hurricane season and the coronavirus pandemic 'is a cataclysmic scenario'
However, NOAA meteorologist and spokesman Dennis Feltgen cautions that it is too soon to tell because it is unclear how the storm might change overtime or interact with landfall.
Those living in potentially affected areas “should monitor the progress of this system through the week and ensure they have their hurricane plan in place as we begin the season,” said meteorologist Gerry Bell from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center.
"Early activity in a hurricane season does not foreshadow what the rest of the season will look like," said Feltgen. While Tropical Storms Amanda and Cristobal have been life-threatening, that does not mean storms to come will be equally severe.
However, forecasters have said it will be an active hurricane season.
NOAA meteorologists predict 13 to 19 named storms will form over the Atlantic basin. A typical season on average sees 12.
Meanwhile, six to 10 storms are anticipated to form into hurricanes, according to the NOAA, and three to six are projected to reach a Category 3 major storm threshold or higher. Although it is unpredictable whether any of the upcoming storms will reach land, experts warn coastal regions to prepare for the worst case scenario.
“It’s a challenge this year with COVID-19,” Feltgen said. “Getting your supplies may take a little extra time. And it’s very important to find out if you’re in a hurricane evacuation zone. If you are, find out where your shelter is. It may not be in the same place it used to be because of COVID-19. If you are in a structure that is safe, shelter in place and stay put.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises preparing a "go-kit" of essential items including masks, gloves and hand sanitizer in the event that people need to find refuge at a public disaster shelter. Local officials will offer guidance on where and when to seek shelter while social distancing.
The latest tropical storm: Amanda weakens after killing 17 people in El Salvador and Guatemala, could reform next week in Gulf of Mexico
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tropical Storm Cristobal path: Gulf of Mexico, may approach US coast
