ORLANDO, Fla. – Tropical Storm Cristobal formed Tuesday afternoon in the Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Cristobal, with sustained winds of 50 mph, 50 miles northwest of Ciudad Del Carmen Mexico. The system was moving toward the south near 1 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm is expected to trek further into the Gulf on a path toward the United States, likely Louisiana or Texas. Forecasters said in their most recent advisory that some strengthening is possible throughout the next day or so.
According to the Hurricane Center, the main threats from Cristobal were heavy rainfall over parts of the Mexican states of Tabasco, Veracruz, and Campeche and strong winds.
Check back with ClickOrlando.com for updates on this developing story.
EARLIER STORY:
On the second day of the 2020 hurricane season, weather experts are keeping tabs on Tropical Depression Three.
The system was centered early Tuesday about 105 miles west of Campeche, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and moving westward at 2 mph.
The government of Mexico has a tropical storm warning in effect from Campeche to the port of Veracruz on that country’s Gulf coast. The warning means tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere in that warning area within 36 hours.
“It will spin and not make much movement over the next several days, but it will likely become a tropical storm and get the name Cristobal,” News 6 meteorologist Troy Bridges said. “By the end of Saturday, it tries to make a move into the Northern Bay of Campeche on its way in the Gulf of Mexico.”
Once in the Gulf, computer models currently show it moving north or northwest, toward Louisiana or Texas.
“It’s just too early to tell what exactly will happen with this system," Bridges said.
Hurricane Hunters find that Tropical Depression 3 has become Tropical Storm Cristobal. Here are the earlier 10 AM CDT June 2nd key messages for the system. More info: https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB pic.twitter.com/dtKUG4Ouni
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) June 2, 2020
Orlando-area forecast
Rain chances will be lower Tuesday as dry air builds in behind a front.
Expect a 30% coverage of rain and a high of 86 degrees in Orlando. The average high on this date is 90. The record high is 98, set in 1924.
Wednesday’s high will also be in the mid-80s, but rain chances jump to 60%.
The chance of rain increases to 80% Thursday and Friday.
The yearly rain deficit in Orlando stands at 6.27 inches.