A developing weather threat is drawing attention across the U.S. Gulf Coast as Tropical Storm Isaias formed Wednesday and is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane later this week, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Isaias formed over the warm waters off eastern Mexico and was moving east-northeast early Wednesday. Forecasters said the storm could eventually make landfall along the U.S. Gulf Coast, although the precise location remains uncertain. Current projections place the potential landfall zone between eastern Louisiana and the western Florida Panhandle.

The storm is also creating concerns for the region's energy infrastructure. The U.S. Gulf Coast contains major oil and natural-gas production and refining facilities, and companies have already begun taking precautionary measures. Chevron, for example, said it was evacuating non-essential personnel from some offshore platforms while maintaining normal production at its operated assets.

With the storm still developing, residents and businesses along the Gulf Coast are being urged to closely monitor official forecasts and prepare for possible changes in the storm's track and intensity.