Tropical Storm Edouard strengthens in Gulf of Mexico, threatens Texas and Louisiana coast

Tropical Storm Edouard has strengthened in the Gulf of Mexico, and additional intensification is expected before the system reaches the northwest Gulf Coast on Tuesday.

According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center's 7 p.m. CDT advisory Monday, Edouard is located about 225 kilometres southeast of Cameron, Louisiana, and about 280 kilometres southeast of Port Arthur, Texas.

The storm has maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h, with higher gusts, and is moving west-northwest at about 9 km/h.

Edouard is expected to continue moving west-northwestward to northwestward over the next day or two. The centre is forecast to reach the northwest Gulf Coast within the warning area Tuesday before moving inland over southeastern Texas Tuesday night.

Warnings in effect

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from Port Bolivar, Texas, to the Vermilion/Iberia Parish line in Louisiana.

A Storm Surge Watch is also in effect from High Island, Texas, to the Vermilion/Cameron Parish line in Louisiana.

Storm surge and flooding threats

Storm surge could produce significant coastal flooding, particularly near and to the right of Edouard's centre.

The National Hurricane Center forecasts 0.6 to 1.2 metres of storm surge from High Island, Texas, to the Vermilion/Cameron Parish line in Louisiana. From the Vermilion/Cameron Parish line to Morgan City, Louisiana, 0.3 to 0.9 metres of surge is possible.

The deepest water is expected along the immediate coast near and to the right of the storm's centre.

Heavy rainfall is another major concern.

Edouard is expected to produce 75 to 150 millimetres of rain, with isolated totals of up to 225 millimetres, across parts of the upper Texas coast and inland through east-central Texas. Far southwestern Louisiana could receive 50 to 75 millimetres.

The rainfall could trigger flash flooding, particularly in low-lying and urban areas, while river flooding is also possible.