The National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Edouard was centered over the northwestern Gulf early Tuesday morning, Sept. 1, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph.
Edouard was moving west-northwest at 8 mph and is expected to strengthen before reaching the northwestern Gulf Coast later Tuesday.
Forecasters said the storm could approach hurricane strength before moving inland.
Tropical storm conditions are expected along portions of the northwest Gulf Coast, with hurricane conditions possible from High Island, Texas, to Cameron, Louisiana.
A Storm Surge Warning is also in effect from High Island to the Vermilion-Cameron parish line in Louisiana.
Water could rise 3 to 5 feet above normally dry ground along the immediate coast within that warning area if peak surge occurs around high tide, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Heavy rainfall will add to the danger.
Parts of the upper Texas coast, east-central Texas, and far southwestern Louisiana could see drenching rain Tuesday into Wednesday, Sept. 2.
Flash flooding is likely in some areas, particularly in cities and other locations where heavy rainfall overwhelms drainage systems. River flooding is also possible.
AccuWeather expects Edouard to track inland across Texas after reaching the coast, gradually losing organization Wednesday night.
Its forecast also shows tropical moisture feeding showers and thunderstorms across a broad stretch of the Gulf Coast this week, from Texas and Louisiana east toward Florida.
Residents in the path should closely follow updated forecasts and local emergency instructions as the storm approaches the coast.
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