Tropical depression nineteen was upgraded to Tropical Storm Richard at 10 a.m. with top winds of 40 mph. It is expected to gradually strengthen and become a hurricane over the western Caribbean. It is not out of the question that it could become a major hurricane before making landfall on the Yucatan late Sunday.
The system is expected to move into the Gulf of Mexico by early next week, sort of like 1975’s Hurricane Eloise.
Much like Eloise, it looks like there is a good chance it could be merging with a frontal system over the northern Gulf after midweek. It could go on to affect the Florida Big Bend area.
It should not affect the Central Gulf Coast, but could enhance our heavy rain potential next week.
