Tropical Storm Edouard could strengthen to hurricane before landfall: Officials

Tropical Storm Edouard is on track to potentially intensify into a hurricane before making landfall on the northwestern Gulf Coast on Tuesday, according to officials from the National Hurricane Center. The storm is forecasted to bring rainfall totals ranging from 3 to 6 inches across the region, with maximum amounts potentially reaching up to 9 inches in parts of the Upper Texas Coast and east-central Texas.

Far southwest Louisiana may experience between 2 to 4 inches of rain, while the more rural areas between Houston and Beaumont are expected to receive the heaviest rainfall, increasing the risk of flash flooding, especially in urban areas. River flooding is also a possibility. At the time of landfall, winds could reach 70 mph or higher, and the storm is anticipated to quickly weaken once inland.

A storm surge of 3 to 5 feet is expected from High Island, Texas, to the Vermilion-Cameron Parish line in Louisiana. The threat of tornadoes cannot be ruled out, with potential outbreaks occurring throughout the afternoon and evening of Tuesday over parts of southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas.