Thursday night update

Storm could become tropical system Friday

The National Hurricane Center in its 9:30 p.m. advisory says that the low-pressure system in the eastern Gulf of Mexico could become a tropical depression or storm by Friday.

Based on the latest model runs, this system appears to be heading well east of Southwest Louisiana. However, we'll know more Friday.

Here's the full advisory:

THE LOW PRESSURE AREA IN THE GULF OF MEXICO HAS BEEN MEANDERING DURING THE PAST FEW HOURS AND IS NOW LOCATED ABOUT 115 MILES WEST OF TAMPA FLORIDA. THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN ORGANIZATION THIS EVENING BUT BANDS OF HEAVY SQUALLS ARE FORMING TO THE NORTH OF THE CENTER ... AND ARE ALREADY AFFECTING COASTAL SECTIONS OF THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THIS SYSTEM TO BECOME A SUBTROPICAL OR TROPICAL CYCLONE AT ANY TIME DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS AS THE LOW MOVES SLOWLY TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST. ALL INTERESTS ALONG THE NORTHERN GULF COAST SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM ... AND TROPICAL STORM WATCHES AND WARNINGS COULD BE PROMPTLY REQUIRED FOR PORTIONS OF THIS AREA ON FRIDAY.