Tropical Storm Edouard could reach hurricane strength as it approaches Texas and Louisiana

Tropical Storm Edouard was moving towards the Gulf Coast, expected to strengthen significantly and possibly reach hurricane force. According to CNBC, it was forecast to make landfall in Texas later on Tuesday. The storm was upgraded from a tropical depression on Monday night.

The National Hurricane Center cautioned about major strengthening before its arrival on the Texas coast. Heavy rainfall, potentially leading to flooding, was expected in parts of eastern Texas and Louisiana, including the Houston metropolitan area, as reported by The Hindustan Times. A hurricane watch was declared from High Island, Texas, to Cameron, Louisiana, and tropical storm warnings were in effect from Port Bolivar, Texas, to the Vermilion/Iberia Parish Line in Louisiana.

Edouard was expected to produce rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches, with maximum totals of up to 9 inches in parts of the Upper Texas Coast, according to ABC News. The storm surge was expected to be 3 to 5 feet, and winds of 70 mph or more were possible near the center of the storm at landfall. Flash flooding and river flooding were also possible, especially in low-lying and urban areas.

Brief written by urgent.news from CNBC, PBS NewsHour, The Guardian US, Hindustan Times - World News, ABC News (US) — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.