What is that in the Gulf?

For the past several days, there has been a blow up of thunderstorms in the Gulf of Mexico, just off the Louisiana coast. This feature is bringing rain to parts of southeast Texas and may bring some rain around our East Texas lakes area. But what is it? Well, it is NOT a tropical system, even though at times it looks like that. It is a weak upper level low, or a disturbance in the atmosphere. It's slowly drifting westward, but is bumping into the area of high pressure that brought us the 100 degree heat. On Thursday, this feature will be close enough to give us a shot at rain for Livingston, Woodville, and Jasper. For the rest of us, it will be a disturbance to our north that gives us a chance at rain. Keep your fingers crossed because we could sure use the rain.