TD17 forms in western GoM

Tropical Depression (TD) 17 formed Friday morning (Oct. 25) in the western sector of the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to bring heavy rains to SE Louisiana. Some severe storms may be possible, according to the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center. If the TD strengthens into a Tropical Storm, it will be called Olga. As of 9 a.m. (CT), it was 320 miles SW of Lake Charles and moving northward at 16 mph with winds of 35 mph. The center of the storm is anticipated to make landfall in Louisiana Friday night or early Saturday. The system is expected to merge with a cold front Friday before making landfall. At that point, it will become a post-tropical low pressure system with gale-force winds, the NHC announced. The Air Force Reserve unit at Keesler AFB, Miss., the Hurricane Hunters, are scheduled to take a closer look at the system when they fly into its center later Friday, forecasters said. The system will enhance rainfall for parts of the South this weekend. Flash flood watches are in effect for most of Mississippi and parts of Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee. The hurricane center said that the system and associated front will bring gale-force winds (behind the front) to the north-central Gulf Coast both today and Saturday. (Source: NOLA.com & AL.com 10/25/19)