Harvey to continue risk of flooding in Central America, southeastern Mexico into midweek

After crossing the Yucatan Peninsula, Harvey may again become a tropical depression or storm at any time into Friday.

There is the potential for rain and wind from Harvey to reach as far to the northwest as Texas.

"All interests from eastern Mexico and southern and coastal Texas should monitor the progress of Harvey," according to AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.

Heavy rain and gusty winds are in store for parts of Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and southeastern Mexico into Wednesday, even as Harvey crosses Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

"From 75 to 125 mm (3 to 5 inches) of rain will fall with local amounts topping 150 mm (6 inches) along the path of Harvey in Central America and southeastern Mexico," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rossio said.

Areas that have heavy rain may be faced with dangerous flooding and mudslides across the higher terrain. Gusty winds could snap weak tree limbs.

Bathers in the area should use extreme caution as the number and strength of rip currents will be on the rise until Harvey moves farther to the north.

Harvey is likely to survive its journey and reach the southwestern Gulf of Mexico at midweek.

"Another opportunity for regeneration and strengthening may take place over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico from Wednesday to Friday," Kottlowski said.

There is the potential for Harvey to bring heavy rain and rough surf to northeastern Mexico and Texas late in the week. Once inland, Harvey may stall and unload tremendous rain and raise the risk of flooding over the region this weekend.

How rough surf and winds get along the northeastern Mexico and Texas coasts and how much rain falls will depend on the amount of strengthening that takes place later this week.

Harvey first developed on Thursday afternoon east of the Windward Islands and became the eighth named tropical system of the 2017 Atlantic season.

Harvey encountered strong wind shear and dry air after crossing the Windward Islands, which caused the system to degenerate into a tropical rainstorm late Saturday evening.

Wind shear is the changing of speed and direction of winds at different layers of the atmosphere. Strong wind shear can shred apart mature tropical storms or hurricanes.

Aside from Harvey, there is one other tropical feature in the Atlantic Basin worth watching over the next several days.

The next six to eight weeks represent the heart of the hurricane season.

As the peak of the hurricane season approaches on Sept. 10, the likelihood of tropical storm and hurricane formation will increase due to warm water, shrinking dry air and diminishing winds.

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