After 3-year drought, tropical system could soon form in Gulf

Storm could bring rain to Houston by weekend

(KPRC)

HOUSTON – Nearly three years have passed without a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico. During the weekend, that set a record for the longest stretch without a hurricane in the Gulf.

This streak has the potential to soon end. Forecasters along the Gulf Coast are all keeping a close eye on a tropical disturbance currently bringing wind and rain to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The National Hurricane Center has given a 90 percent chance of becoming a named storm by this weekend. It would be called "Earl."

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There is not an immediate threat of a tropical system to directly impact Southeast Texas. Anything that develops is projected  to move towards Central Mexico. However, this could bring beneficial rain to the Houston area this weekend and early next week.

The last hurricane to impact the Gulf of Mexico was Ingrid in September 2013. The last named storms in the Gulf were Bill in 2015, and Dolly in 2014. Neither became a hurricane.

Previously, longest record of no Gulf hurricanes was from October 1929 to August 1932.

Track the tropics by downloading the FREE KPRC 2 Hurricane Tracker app: