ORLANDO, Fla. — A disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico has higher odds Tuesday morning of becoming the next tropical depression of the year, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Radar imagery shows a trough of low pressure over the Bay of Campeche is getting better organized and is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms, according to the 8 a.m. update.
Development is possible if the disturbance when the system moves Tuesday and Wednesday west-northwestward to northwestward over the far southwestern Gulf of Mexico where it could become a tropical depression over the next day or so. Although, the low will struggle through upper-level winds later this week.
The system has a 60% chance of development in the next two to five days. However, residual moisture and remnants from Tropical Storm Julia could become absorbed by the new threat fueling its development further. The Bay of Campeche has sea-surface temperatures of 82 and 83 degrees — ideal for tropical development, according to Spectrum News 13′s SST map.
An Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft is scheduled to investigate the disturbance this afternoon if necessary.
If it does develop into a tropical storm, it would receive the name, Karl.
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