Tropical Storm Hanna was expected to strengthen Friday as it moves toward the Texas coastline, threatening to bring heavy rain, rough waters and strong winds, all the while another tropical storm continued to approach the Caribbean. Hanna was located about 285 miles (460 kilometers) east of Corpus Christi, Texas, quoted the National Hurricane Center as saying in its 7 a.m. CDT advisory. It had maximum sustained winds around 40 mph (65 kph) and was moving west, northwest at 9 mph (15 kph). Tropical Storm Hanna is moving west across the western Gulf of Mexico and was forecast to make landfall on Saturday. A tropical storm warning was in effect from the mouth of the Rio Grande to San Luis Pass, Texas, and a tropical storm watch was in effect from San Luis Pass to High Island, Texas. People can expect widespread showers and storms Friday through the weekend. The biggest threats for Southeast, Louisiana and coastal Mississippi will be the potential for heavy rainfall, which could lead to flash flooding and coastal flooding around high tide. Even after Hanna makes landfall Saturday along the Texas coast, the deep tropical moisture will continue to build between its circulation and the ridge of high pressure over the western Atlantic. Also lingering will be a weak disturbance over the Northwest. Numerous showers and storms will provide plenty of moisture into the middle of next week. A drier and warmer pattern will resume later in the week. Gonzalo's Future As of 10 a.m. Friday, Gonzalo was 485 miles east of the southern Windward Islands and has max sustained winds of 50 mph. The risk of wind and rain impacts from Gonzalo in portions of the southern Windward Islands this weekend continues to increase, however there is significant uncertainty in how strong Gonzalo will be when it moves across the islands. Despite the uncertainty in Gonzalo's future intensity, hurricane or tropical storm conditions are possible across portions of the southern Windward Islands Saturday and Sunday night. Hurricane and tropical storm warnings and watches are currently in effect for some of the islands. — SPA/Agencies
