Hurricane forecasters watching disturbance in Gulf of Mexico

Forecasters are watching a patch of rough weather over the northern Gulf of Mexico that could bring heavy rains to the Florida Panhandle and other parts of the Gulf Coast this week.

The disturbance doesn’t pose a threat to the Tampa Bay area, but forecasters warn it could bring wet weather to areas of north Florida.

“This system is expected to meander near the northern Gulf coast through the end of the week, and gradual development is possible if it remains offshore,” the National Hurricane Center said in it’s 8 a.m. advisory Tuesday. “Regardless of development, heavy rains will pose a risk of flash flooding along portions of the northern Gulf coast from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle over the next several days.”

Forecasters give the disturbance only a 10 percent chance of developing into a tropical system by Thursday. There’s a 30 percent chance of tropical formation by Sunday.

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