Covington County EMA director Susan Harris said there is still much uncertainty about the potential for a tropical storm in the Gulf this week.

An area of low pressure mostly over the Yucatan Peninsula is expected to move over the southern or central Gulf later today and Tuesday, where a tropical or sub-tropical cyclone is likely to form.

As of 7 a.m. this morning, the National Hurricane Center has maintained an 80 percent chance of forming a tropical cyclone within 48 hours, and a 90 percent chance within the next five days.  A “sub-tropical” cyclone is one that shares characteristics of both a tropical system and a typical low pressure system.

An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate this system later today around 3 p.m.

While tropical or sub-tropical cyclone development is likely per the National Hurricane Center, movement of the system through later this week remains highly uncertain.

As of this morning, all that is certain is that the system will dump significant rainfall on South Alabama and the Panhandle.

The Star-News will update this story as more information becomes available.