After the Air Force plane left for base tonight, satellite imagery indicated that thunderstorm activity over the southern Gulf was firing and getting organized. Theplane actually founda circulation, but it was too small to classify as a depression. But based on the convection, forecasters have identified the system as TD#5.
The center of TD5 is some 425 miles east southeast of Brownsville. It is moving northwest at 10 mph, and is expected to turn more to the WNW tomorrow.
The center should reach the Lower or Middle Texas Coast by Thursday morning.
Only slow strengthening is expected. The system is expected to become a tropical storm tomorrow. It will be named Erin.
Tropical storm watches are posted along the Texas coast south of Freeport.
The system will bring heavy rains to parts of South Texas.
The latest on Dean in a few minutes….
