National Hurricane Center 2 a.m. update:
A broad low pressure area located over the far northeastern Gulf of Mexico is producing widespread but disorganized showers and thunderstorms.
Environmental conditions are conducive for development of this system, and a tropical depression is expected to form late today or Thursday while the low moves slowly westward across the northern Gulf of Mexico.
An Air Force Reserve Unit reconnaissance aircraft is scheduled to investigate the disturbance this afternoon.
This system could produce storm surge and tropical storm or hurricane force winds across portions of the Louisiana, Mississippi and Upper Texas coasts, and interests there should closely monitor its progress.
In addition this disturbance has the potential to produce very heavy rainfall from the Upper Texas Coast to the Florida Panhandle.
For more information, please see products issued by your local weather forecast office and the NOAA Weather Prediction Center.
* Formation chance through 48 hours…high…90 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days…high…90 percent. 
