A couple things we're watching in the tropics. A tropical wave moving through the Gulf will increase the chance for rain this week. Fortunately, it doesn't look like it will organize. However, with deep tropical moisture, we'll need to watch for downpours that can lead to street flooding.
A cool front will approach the northern Gulf by the end of this weekend and that coupled with deep tropical moisture already in place can sometimes lead to tropical development closer to home. It's just something to watch this weekend and early next week.
Deeper in the Atlantic we're tracking a tropical wave now designated Invest 97. It's unorganized as of Tuesday morning as it sits off the Coast of Africa. The wave will have a shot at becoming a depression this week as it moves west-northwest. A few things are working against the system, but conditions are somewhat favorable for modest organization this week. It doesn't have a lot of dry air right now and shear isn't too high. While it is running through warm waters right now, it will be near slightly cooler waters to the north this week. By this weekend and early next week, the tropical wave will be near the northern side of the Lesser Antilles, but this is when it will encounter shear and dry air. With this current outlook, it doesn't look like a Gulf problem right now.
