Tropical Storm Edouard Expected to Strengthen and Bring Heavy Rain to Texas and Louisiana

The National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Edouard, located about 40 miles south-southeast of Cameron, Louisiana, and 70 miles east-southeast of Port Arthur, Texas, is forecast to strengthen on Tuesday and could reach hurricane intensity before making landfall in Texas. The system is moving west-northwest at 8 mph with sustained winds of 40 mph.

Tropical storm warnings, hurricane watches, storm-surge warnings and flood watches have been issued for the western Gulf Coast. Officials expect the storm to drop 3 to 6 inches of rain along the Texas coast, with isolated amounts up to 9 inches, while southwestern Louisiana is likely to see lighter totals. The center warned that flash flooding could affect low-lying and urban areas.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott noted that flooding is the primary concern, and Orlando Alanis of the Texas Division of Emergency Management said the state is prepared for the storm. State crews have been clearing dry vegetation to reduce fire risk from potential lightning strikes.

The agency also reported that the remnants of Tropical Storm Dolly are bringing rain to parts of Haiti, the Dominican Republic, the Turks & Caicos and the Bahamas. In the Pacific, Tropical Storm Lowell is positioned southeast of Hawaii and may intensify into a major hurricane by Wednesday, while Tropical Storm Marie, offshore southwest Mexico, is expected to become a hurricane in the coming days. Hurricane Karina, now a Category 4 storm, remains far from land.