Tropical system in the Gulf could strengthen before landfall. Will North Texas feel the effects?

Coastal Texans, especially those near the Louisiana border, could be affected by a tropical system this week that could strengthen into a hurricane before making landfall.

On Saturday, Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to allocate additional resources to the state’s emergency response, in addition to those already deployed several days earlier in response to heavy rains and flash flooding across the state.

“Texas is prepared to deploy all available resources to support Texans as a severe storm system begins to move along the Gulf Coast, bringing with it the threat of flash flooding and heavy rainfall,” Abbott said in a press release. “…Texans are urged to take necessary precautions for possible tropical weather, including staying alert for the weather, monitoring road conditions and creating an emergency plan to ensure the safety of themselves and their loved ones.”

The system was classified as a potential Tropical Cyclone Six on Monday morning, but meteorologists warned that it could develop into Tropical Storm Francine during the day and a hurricane by Wednesday. The term “potential tropical cyclone” describes a disturbance that is not yet a tropical cyclone but has the potential to become a tropical storm or hurricane within 48 hours, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The storm will most likely make landfall in Louisiana, but a track closer to Texas is still possible, according to the National Weather Service Houston/Galveston.

The weather service says there could be widespread heavy rains, flooding and damaging winds in southeast Texas. Marine conditions will also be dangerous.

“Impacts will depend heavily on direction,” the weather service said in a warning Monday morning. “Less impacts to southeast Texas as the storm moves further east. Greater impacts as it moves west.”

Unlike Hurricane Beryl in July, which brought wet weather to North Texas, the region is expected to be spared from this storm.

Jennifer Dunn, a meteorologist with the weather service in Fort Worth, said if the tropical system maintains its currently forecast course, it will not affect North Texas.

“We’re still expecting rain in the eastern parts of North and East Texas as the (tropical) system moves in, but our rain chances are also increasing because we have a low pressure system aloft, so it’s a combination of systems,” she said.

Dunn said that while Dallas-Fort Worth is not expected to experience severe weather during the week, there could be periods of heavy rain and gusty winds.

For current information on tropical systems, visit hurricanes.gov.

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