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MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Edouard was expected to strengthen significantly and possibly reach hurricane force Tuesday as it moved toward the Gulf Coast, where heavy rains and flooding were possible in parts of Texas and Louisiana, the National Hurricane Center warned.
The storm was upgraded Monday night from a tropical depression and forecasters expected it to make landfall in Texas later on Tuesday.
Tuesday morning, the storm was about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south-southeast of Cameron, Louisiana, and 70 miles (113 kilometers) east-southeast of Port Arthur, Texas, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph) while moving west-northwest at 8 mph (13 kph).
Tropical storm warnings, hurricane watches, storm surge warnings and flood watches were issued for the western Gulf Coast. The hurricane center said Edouard was expected to dump 3 to 6 inches (8 to 15 centimeters) of rain along the Texas coast through east-central Texas, but some areas could see up to 9 inches (23 centimeters). Southwestern Louisiana was expected to see lesser amounts.
Flash flooding was likely in low-lying and urban areas, the hurricane center said.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the biggest problem expected from the storm is flooding.
“This is our first big storm of the season, and I’ll tell you, Texas is prepared,” Orlando Alanis of the Texas Division of Emergency Management said during a news conference.
Crews worked Monday to clear dry vegetation that could ignite from a lightning strike and cause fast-spreading fires, Abbott said.
