It appears time is running out for a disturbance in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico to develop into a tropical system.
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center noted Tuesday that the areas of showers and thunderstorms had not become any better organized.
"Environmental conditions appear only marginally favorable and this system has a short window to develop further over the next day or so. By Wednesday morning, the system is forecast to merge with a developing frontal boundary over the western Gulf of Mexico," the NHC continued. "Regardless of tropical cyclone development, the system is forecast to produce gale-force winds over portions of the northern Gulf of Mexico by tomorrow, and potentially heavy rainfall along the Gulf Coast by the latter portion of this week."
The National Weather Service Office for New Orleans says most of the rain is expected to fall on Wednesday, with localized flash flooding possible in coastal areas.
More from the NWS: