MIAMI - A tropical depression made landfall over the Yucatan Peninsula early Monday, prompting tropical storm warnings for parts of Mexico.
While it is likely to weaken as it moves over land, "it is not likely to dissipate," said Jack Beven, hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
"We expect it eventually to emerge into the Gulf of Mexico, where conditions are favorable for it to intensify," Beven said.
It could develop into a tropical storm as it moves northwest, and could reach the Texas or Louisiana coasts by Wednesday or Thursday, he said.
The depression had top sustained winds of 35 mph; tropical storms sustain winds of at least 39 mph.
At 1 a.m. CDT, the depression was about 65 miles north-northeast of Chetumal and was moving northwest at about 9 mph.
The depression could drop 5 to 10 inches of rain over the northern Yucatan Peninsula and the western tip of Cuba, forecasters said.
A tropical storm warning was issued for the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from Punta Allan to Chetumal, including the Banco Chincorro Islands.
This is the third tropical depression of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1 and ends Nov. 30. The next tropical storm will be named Cindy.
