The system, identified as Invest 93L, originally developed east of Florida before traversing the entire state and ending up over Louisiana and Mississippi.

The Florida Panhandle will see heavy rainfall from Invest 93L after it reaches the Gulf on Wednesday. The greatest threat to the area at the moment is flash flooding in low-lying, poor-drainage areas and urban locations. Invest 93L is currently expected to make landfall near Louisiana's southeastern coast Thursday morning.

North Carolina has declared a state of emergency after Tropical Storm Chantal caused severe flooding and at least six deaths.

Hurricane center forecasters said the system, designated as Invest 93L, is forecast to continue moving westward and could emerge or redevelop.

Forecasts suggested widespread rainfall totals between 2 and 4 inches, with isolated areas seeing as much as 7 inches by Tuesday evening. Authorities emphasized the risk posed by flooding, including rapidly rising waters in streams and dangerous road conditions in both cities and rural areas.

As the peak months of the Atlantic hurricane season quickly approach, conditions for tropical development become more likely.

A potential tropical cyclone is a developing tropical system that could impact land within the next 72 hours, but hasn’t yet become a tropical depression or storm.

A disturbance near Florida could evolve into a tropical depression or Tropical Storm Dexter this week, according to forecasters.

Storm expected to pass ‘rather close’ to city on Sunday, as forecaster warns of strong winds and torrential rain over the weekend.