ORLANDO, Fla. _ The area of pressure-churning waters in the Gulf of Mexico is rapidly increasing its odds of developing into a tropical depression, according to the National Hurricane Center's 8 p.m. Thursday update.
The storm has changed so quickly that the NHC released a special advisory about it at 10 a.m. outside of the NHC's normally updated schedule.
While the disturbance still does not have a well-defined center, further development is anticipated, the NHC said.
The low pressure area, which is currently in the Bay of Campeche, now has a 70% chance of formation over the next two to five days, said NHC senior hurricane specialist John Cangialosi.
The wave's greatest chance of development lies in the coming days as it moves over the western portion of the Gulf of Mexico.
If the wave can find circular wind flow it will become the 17th tropical depression of the 2019 hurricane season, and if it further strengthens its maximum sustained winds to 39 mph or higher it will become Tropical Storm Olga, according to the NHC.
However, it's time as a depression could be short-lived as it continues north, where meteorologists expect it to merge with a cold front late Friday.
