This hurricane season’s second tropical depression has formed, and for the second time the Alabama Gulf Coast is looking at rain and rip currents as impacts.

The National Weather Service and area meteorologists started sharing Sunday midday that Tropical Depression Two has developed a well-defined low-level circulation and is forecast to slowly intensify into a tropical storm (it would be Bertha) and approach our area around midweek.

The highest risks are currently expected along and near the coast, including life-threatening rip currents and rough surf starting Tuesday, NWS-Mobile posted on Facebook July 19.

Alabama meteorologist James Spann posted on his social media that Air Force Hurricane Hunters are scheduled to investigate the system later today.

Spann’s key messages on Sunday were that the storm is not expected to become a strong tropical storm or a hurricane; he forecasts “elevated coverage of showers and storms over the next few days, but no day will be a wash-out”; waterspouts or brief tornadoes will be possible near the coast Monday through Wednesday; there will be a high danger of rip currents Monday through Wednesday; and the storm will move away from the area later in the week.

Almost exactly a month ago, Tropical Storm Arthur brought torrential rain and flash flooding to the area, with the biggest impacts seen in north Baldwin County and the Eastern Shore.