The National Hurricane Center now says a low pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico will become a hurricane by Saturday.
Landfall is predicted in the middle of Louisiana Saturday into Sunday.
"A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued from the Mouth of the Mississippi River to Morgan City, Louisiana," according to the advisory.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
There is also a A Storm Surge Watch is in effect from the mouth of the Pearl River to Morgan City.
A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND----------------------STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide.
Mouth of the Pearl River to Morgan City...3 to 5 ft
Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.
RAINFALL: The system is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 6 to 12 inches near and inland of the central Gulf Coast through early next week, with isolated maximum rainfall amounts of 18 inches.
WIND: Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area by late Thursday or early Friday.
TIMING