The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Beta will become a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall in Texas and send rain to Louisiana.
"On the forecast track, the center of Beta will slowly approach the Texas coast into early next week."
Slow strengthening is forecast, and Beta is expected to be at or near hurricane strength Sunday night or Monday.
Rain from the Beta spreads significantly to the east of the center. Showers are already drifting into the New Orleans area.
That is forecast to continue with heavier rain possible as Beta is forecast to move more to the east and into Southwest Louisiana as a tropical depression by Thursday of next week.
RAINFALL:
· Beta has the potential to produce a long-lived rainfall event along the western Gulf Coast.
· Today through Tuesday, Beta is expected to produce rainfall accumulations of 3 to 5 inches with isolated totals of 10 inches beginning Saturday across southern Louisiana and spreading into coastal Texas on Sunday.
· Flash and urban flooding is likely as well as minor river flooding. Additional heavy rainfall amounts across the western Gulf Coast are possible through late week as Beta is expected to move slowly near the Texas coast.
