An Uncertain Future for Tropical Depression Harvey (credit: WSIL Meteorologist Nick Hausen)

DISCUSSION: Over the next few days, Tropical Depression Harvey is projected to continue gradually making its way towards the greater Southeast Texas region as it continues on its current north-northeastward track across the far western portions of the Gulf of Mexico.  As it continues to do so, Harvey (regardless of whether it remains at tropical depression or regains tropical storm intensity) will be bringing in a plethora of rainfall as well as a prolonged period of gusty (and some potentially more damaging) winds to the surface along the immediate western Gulf Coast.  However, based on the fact that there will not be much (if any) larger-scale atmospheric features nearby Harvey near the projected time frame for its first official United States landfall, there is a fairly large degree of uncertainty regarding the exact future track which Harvey will follow as it approaches and then subsequently moves inland across parts of the South-Central United States.  Therefore, if you live anywhere across states including (but certainly not limited to) Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri, it is imperative to remain vigilant in the coming days as weak tropical low pressure systems similar to this one which move slowly inland are historically known for producing historically large and high-impacting rainfall events.  Be sure to stay tuned right here at the Global Weather and Climate Center for updates on this evolving situation with Tropical Depression Harvey in the coming hours and days!

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©2017 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz