Louisiana, MS, AL – As Potential Tropical Cyclone 18 moves toward the Gulf Coast, states are getting ready for its effects, which are expected by late Friday. The system is currently in the southern Caribbean, moving northwest, and there is a good chance that it will get stronger and turn into a tropical depression.
The National Weather Service (NWS) says the disturbance will move northwest and hit the southeastern Gulf of Mexico by the middle of the week. Storms could bring heavy rain, strong winds, and dangerous conditions to the beaches of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama as they get closer.
The NWS says that beach and marine hazards, such as dangerous rip currents, may put Gulf Coast towns at great risk. There are tropical watches and warnings in place in some parts of the Caribbean because the storm is getting stronger.
People living in the Gulf area are being told to keep an eye on the weather and get ready for possibly bad weather by Friday. As the storm gets worse, the NWS tells people living along the coast to stay alert and follow any safety directions that are given.