Tropical Storm Lili poses potential threat here
Now that we're all feeling pretty good about Isidore deciding not to pay a visit, it may be time to begin wondering what Lili's intentions are.
Tropical Storm Lili on Sunday trudged toward the Gulf of Mexico where it promises to gain strength and may even reach hurricane status before possibly striking the Gulf Coast toward the end of the week.
"Environmental conditions are ripe for it to develop into a hurricane because the water in the Gulf is so warm," said Don Oettinger, a meteorologist with the Houston-Galveston office of the National Weather Service. "It is still three days out but it absolutely looks like it is coming this way."
Lili's exact path remained uncertain Sunday, but forecasters predicted the storm would find its way into the Gulf where it could threaten the coast from Texas to Florida. Though Lili is a smaller storm than sprawling Isidore -- which battered Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and the Gulf Coast between Louisiana and Florida last week -- it has the potential to provide a wallop.
"In size, Lili is quite a bit smaller but it has the potential to be much stronger than Isidore on a U.S. landfall," said Martin Nelson, a forecaster with the National Hurricane Center. "At times Isidore covered the entire Gulf. That won't be the case here but Lili has the potential to be a decent hurricane."
Lili spent much of Sunday meandering in the Caribbean, becoming better organized throughout the day. Lili's winds gusted at about 60 mph and extended about 70 miles from the storm's center.
Lili's headed this way, but right now that could mean making landfall anywhere from Texas to Florida. It's too early to worry, but it's like trying to ignore an 800-lb. gorilla. For now, though, I'll just make sure that all my weekend plans are in pencil.
