A tropical storm in the Caribbean could become the next hurricane in a day or two, eyeing the northern Gulf Coast later in the week.
As of early Monday, Tropical Storm Delta, which was only a tropical depression when the video below was recorded, is about 130 miles south of Negril, Jamaica. It’s producing sustained winds of only 40 mph.
Delta will hit the Cayman Islands, where the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued a tropical storm warning, Monday night.
By late Tuesday or early Wednesday, Delta could intensify into a Category 1 hurricane as it clips western Cuba, where the NHC also has issued a tropical storm warning.
Based on the latest NHC forecast, Delta will then head to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, possibly gaining more steam and turning into a Category 2 storm for a period of time. However, it will probably weaken back to Category 1 by landfall.
Delta’s intensity will depend on how much wind shear it has to fight off. Right now, wind shear looks to be fairly weak, making intensification likely.
Unfortunately, potential Hurricane Delta could make a direct hit in southern Louisiana Friday, with additional wind damage and flooding in places recovering from Hurricane Laura.
Carriers and shippers should prepare for possible shut downs of roads and ports. Oil facilities as and off-shore oil rigs may have to close temporarily, too.