Article first published: Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, 10 a.m. ET

Article last updated: Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, 4 p.m. ET

System type: Tropical depression

The National Hurricane Center’s 4 p.m. Monday update reported that the tropical depression was previously a potential tropical cyclone but has since gained strength and developed into a tropical depression with sustained winds of 35 mph. The tropical depression is in the Gulf of Mexico, 105 miles south of Morgan City, Louisiana and 185 miles southeast of Port Arthur, Texas. The system, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph, is moving to the west-northwest at 6 mph.

Forecasters alert of a storm surge watch issued for a portion of the northwestern gulf coast. A tropical storm warning has been extended by forecasters for eastward along the coast of southwestern Louisiana.

Changes with this advisory

The Tropical Storm Warning has been extended eastward to the Vermilion/Iberia Parish Line in Louisiana.

A Storm Surge Watch has been issued for the U.S. Gulf Coast from High Island, Texas, to the Vermilion/Cameron Parish Line, Louisiana.

Watches and warnings currently in effect

• Tropical Storm Warning for Port Bolivar to the Vermilion/Iberia Parish Line

• Storm Surge Watch for High Island to the Vermilion/Cameron Parish Line

Meaning of the different watches and warnings

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within the next 24 hours or so.

A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life- threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov.

Hazards affecting land

Wind. Tropical storm conditions are expected to reach the coast within the warning area by Tuesday morning, making outside preparations difficult or dangerous.

Storm surge. The combination of storm surge and tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide…

High Island, TX to Vermilion/Cameron Parish Line, LA…2-4 ft Vermilion/Cameron Parish Line, LA to Morgan City, LA…1-3 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the right of the center. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.

For a complete depiction of areas at risk of storm surge inundation, please see the National Weather Service Peak Storm Surge Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at5.shtml?peakSurge.

Rainfall. Tropical Depression Five is expected to produce rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches with maximum totals of 9 inches for parts of the Upper Texas Coast inland through east-central Texas, with potential for 2 to 3 inches in far Southwest Louisiana. This rainfall is likely to produce flash flooding, especially in low-lying and urban areas. River flooding may also be possible.

For a complete forecast of rainfall associated with TD Five, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at5.shtml?rainqpf and the Flash Flood Risk graphic at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at5.shtml?ero.

Source: National Hurricane Center