Tropical Storm Beta is sitting stationary in the Gulf of Mexico. The National Hurricane Center expects the storm to begin a slow westward movement toward the Texas coast tonight.
Maximum winds at 4 p.m. were 60 miles per hour.
"Slow strengthening is expected during the next couple of days, and Beta could be near hurricane strength as it approaches the Texas coast," said forecaster Jack Beven with the National Hurricane Center.
Forecasters say there are a lot of uncertainties in the intensity forecast for Beta.
"First, the global models still suggest that the ongoing southwesterly shear may not subside much before landfall," said Beven. "Second, GOES-16 air mass imagery shows abundant upper-level dry air over the western Gulf of Mexico, including near the storm center. Third, surface observations show a drier low-level airmass in place over southeastern Texas, and some of this may be getting entrained into the storm."
Beta is less likely to gain hurricane strength, but a hurricane warning may still be issued for parts of the Texas coast as soon as tonight.
Beta's track is still forecast to move west towards Texas, with landfall possible before it takes a northeasterly turn, bringing rain to southern Louisiana from one end of the state to another.
LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM App
Follow RADIO.COM
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram