Cristobal weakens to a depression before its expected turn toward the Gulf of Mexico
Cristobal, now a tropical depression, is slowly turning east over southern Mexico as it gears up for its northern turn back into the Gulf of Mexico and toward the Gulf Coast.
The National Hurricane Center predicts Cristobal will restrengthen into a tropical storm Friday evening as it reemerges over water, but as of its 11 p.m. update Thursday the center does not expect Cristobal to become a hurricane before it makes landfall again Sunday evening.
Mexico has discontinued its tropical storm warnings, although the center noted some may be needed for the Yucatán Peninsula later Thursday as Cristobal continues to lash the Campeche region with heavy rain and 35-mph winds.
Since Saturday, the storm has dropped a total of 35 inches of rain in parts of southern Guatemala, Chiapas, Mexico and El Salvador.
If Cristobal does head toward Louisiana as expected, forecasters warned that other Gulf States should stay alert for high winds and heavy rains. NHC graphics show tropical storm force winds could stretch all the way from Eastern Texas to the easternmost tip of the Florida Panhandle.
Meteorologists warn heavy rainfall will spread into portions of the Gulf Coast from east Texas to Florida this weekend into early next week, with areas of flash flooding possible.
“Indeed, the models suggest that when the storm reaches the northern Gulf coast, the worst conditions may occur at a large distance from the center,” they wrote.
This story was originally published June 4, 2020 at 11:39 AM with the headline "Cristobal weakens to a depression before its expected turn toward the Gulf of Mexico."
