US forecasters said on Tuesday a storm forming in the Gulf of Mexico and speeding towards Louisiana and Mississippi would become the first Atlantic hurricane of 2026 within two days. Currently named Tropical Depression Nine, the cyclone would be at tropical storm strength by early Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center said.
"The depression is expected to pass to the north of the Yucatan Peninsula on Thursday, and approach the US northern Gulf Coast on Friday," the Hurricane Center said in a statement.
