*Updated 12:55 p.m. Wednesday*  Tropical Depression 5 is still very disorganized, and may not make it to Tropical Storm status before making landfall.  This system still looks to be moving toward the Louisiana coast, and will likely bring areas of heavy rainfall and some flooding, but shouldn't be as bad as previously thought.

Upper level winds are still relatively unfavorable for further development, but the water in the Gulf is very warm, so the storm could potentially become a Tropical Storm, but even if it does, it will be a weak one, and winds shouldn't be more than around 40 mph, not strong enough to do anything more than minor damage.  There's also the possibility that the storm will just dissipate before ever nearing the coastline, bringing no more than a few showers and thunderstorms to the Gulf states.

As we move further through August, this season isn't expected to be as bad as earlier estimates had thought.  Keep in mind through, that it only takes one storm to wreak havoc in our neighborhood, or someone else's.  Also remember that climatologically speaking, we haven't hit the peak of hurricane season just yet, which occurs in early September. 

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Not surprisingly, the tropics are starting to come alive.   August is normally one of two very active months in the Tropical Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.  We're now up to Tropical Depression 5, which has a very good chance of strengthening to a Tropical Storm tomorrow.  It would then become Danielle, the fourth tropical storm of the 2010 season.

The center of the activity is located about 365 miles SE of the mouth of the Mississippi River.  Winds are already up to 35 mph, just shy of Tropical Storm strength.  Very warm waters are present in the Gulf in the path of the storm, but there is enough vertical wind shear to keep the storm from strengthening significantly.  Official forecasts keep the wind speeds to around 50-55 mph at the height of the storm.  Nonetheless, the depression is still expected to become a Tropical Storm, and could bring dangerous weather conditions to areas along the coast.

The storm should continue to move slowly toward the Northwest, now around 6 mph.  The storm is expected to bring Tropical Storm force winds to the Louisiana coast late Wednesday or early Thursday.  In anticipation of the storm, Tropical Storm warnings have been issued from Destin, Florida to Intracoastal City, Louisiana.  This warning includes New Orleans. The storm will likely bring 40 mph winds to areas along the coast, 3-5 inches of rain, and storm surges of 2-4 feet near the center of the storm.

The Texas coast isn't expected to be directly affected by this storm, but the system should bring better rain chances to the Brazos Valley on Thursday as it moves inland over Louisiana.