US meteorologists monitoring tropical disturbances in US Gulf, western Atlantic

HOUSTON (ICIS)–The National Weather Service is tracking three disturbances in the US Gulf and western Atlantic, one of which could bring large amounts of rainfall to the Houston area over the next two days.

Source: National Hurricane Center (NHC)

Disturbance No 1 is generating showers and thunderstorms near the south Texas coast and is forecast to move slowly northward and inland, meteorologists at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

Slow development of the system remains possible as it is still over water, meaning there remains a chance it could strengthen into a named storm.

“Regardless of development, heavy rain is possible along portions of the Texas coast for the next two days,” the NHC said.

A flash flood watch is in effect for southeast Texas, including the greater Houston area, which is home to several chemical plants, refineries and terminals that export oil, fuel, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and natural gas liquids (NGLs) such as ethane and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

The Office of Emergency Management of Deer Park, Texas, said the watch is in effect through Friday night.

Disturbance No 2 is located several hundred miles east of the Windward Islands and is producing disorganised showers and thunderstorms.

The NHC only gives a 10% chance of this disturbance becoming a hurricane in the next five days.

The third disturbance, referred to by the NHC as potential tropical cyclone No 2, is likely to generate heavy rainfall across Colombia today before moving west across Nicaragua and Costa Rica by Friday.

Areas of life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides are expected.

Hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area along the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua late on Friday.

There is limited chemical production in the region, according to the ICIS Supply and Demand Database, with some caustic soda and chlorine produced in Costa Rica.

The Gulf of Mexico hosts several offshore oil wells, accounting for 15% of the nation’s crude production, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), and federal offshore natural gas production in the Gulf accounts for 5% of total US dry production.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November.