HOUSTON – The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is now tracking Potential Tropical Cyclone Six in the Gulf of Mexico, as millions of people along parts of the U.S. Gulf Coast from Texas to Louisiana are bracing for a potentially life-threatening hurricane strike this week.

Potential Tropical Cyclone Six, which was known as Invest 91L, comes as we enter the peak of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, and right on schedule, there are multiple areas of concern that forecasters are tracking for potential development this week.

“While it is too soon to pinpoint the exact location and magnitude of impacts, the potential for life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds are increasing for portions of the Louisiana and upper Texas coastlines beginning Tuesday night,” the NHC said.

What’s the latest with Potential Tropical Cyclone 6?

As of the latest advisory from the NHC, Potential Tropical Cyclone Six is located about 305 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Rio Grande or about 545 miles south of Cameron, Louisiana.

Where are watches and warnings in effect because of Potential Tropical Cyclone 6?

Because of the threat from Potential Tropical Cyclone Six, a Tropical Storm Watch has been issued in far southern Texas from the mouth of the Rio Grande to Port Mansfield, Texas, and along Mexico’s Gulf Coast from Barra del Tordo northward to the mouth of the Rio Grande.

According to the NHC, Hurricane, Tropical Storm and Storm Surge Watches will likely be required for portions of the Louisiana and upper Texas coasts later Monday.

Where is Potential Tropical Cyclone 6 going?

The NHC said Potential Tropical Cyclone Six is expected to move just offshore of Mexico’s northern Gulf Coast through Tuesday, then approach the Louisiana and upper Texas coastlines on Wednesday.

Potential Tropical Cyclone Six is predicted to become a tropical storm later Monday, with more significant intensification likely on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The system is forecast to become a hurricane before it reaches the U.S.’s northwestern Gulf Coast.

The storm is expected to dump 4-8 inches of rain, with localized amounts up to 12 inches, from the coast of far northeastern Mexico northward along portions of the southern Texas coast and across southern Louisiana and southern Mississippi into Thursday morning.

This rainfall would lead to the risk of considerable flash and urban flooding.

The NHC has released its flight plan for the next few days, which includes multiple flights scheduled to sample the environment around Potential Tropical Cyclone Six.

Once the storm system becomes a named storm, the Hurricane Hunters will be flying routinely throughout the day to obtain “fixes” on the exact position of the storm’s center.