Likening the system to a merry-go-round, Pilié said weather forecasting models Thursday showed the storm doing a full loop around the southeast U.S. before circling back to the Gulf Coast, bringing increased rain chances and the potential for tropical development late next week.

There will be no tropical depression in the Gulf, at least this week. The National Hurricane Center on Thursday said an area of low pressure that had attracted the attention of weather watchers this week as it moved across the northern Gulf has moved inland in Louisiana as of Thursday evening.

Its chances for tropical development are less, but rainfall flooding is a threat, regardless, in the lower Mississippi Valley. Here's our latest forecast.

TAMPA, Fla. — The National Hurricane Center and the 10 Tampa Bay weather team continue to monitor a system in the Gulf that is no longer a threat to the Tampa Bay area but will continue to bring heavy rain and the potential for flash flooding to parts of the northern Gulf Coast.

Downpours are expected in Houston on Friday as a tropical disturbance along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico stalls without strengthening.

A slow-developing, broad area of low pressure located over the far northern portion of the Gulf is threatening to bring heavy rain and flooding.