Yahoo Web Search

The system will bring heavy rainfall to the Texas coast as well as inland locations, regardless of its final strength. This could help a worsening drought affecting more than 70% of the state, but at the risk of flash flooding.

The latest track has the system making landfall well south of Corpus Christi along the south/central Texas coast.

South Texas, including Corpus Christi, could generally see up to 5 inches of rain from Tuesday to Wednesday, with as many as 7 inches of rain for some isolated locations, according to the hurricane center, which is urging residents to be prepared for flash flooding.

In addition to heavy rainfall, the storm will provide relief from exceptional summer heat in South Texas.

In Mexico, generally 4 to 6 inches of rain are possible in the states of Nuevo Leon and Coahuila on Tuesday and Wednesday, with as many as 10 inches possible in isolated locations, the hurricane center said.

While this tropical system will bring some beneficial rain to parts of the drought-stricken state, some of the worst drought conditions – areas of extreme and exceptional drought in Central Texas - might miss out on the bulk of the rain.

This storm is the latest sign of the Atlantic hurricane season exploding into action. It’s almost as if a light switch was turned on in the Atlantic basin: three tropical systems formed in 24 hours Saturday into Sunday and now the Texas storm is expected to make it four.

This is only the third time on record three tropical systems have formed within 24 hours, according to Lowry.

While the Gulf system is the most imminent of the tropical threats, two other tropical storms are lined up in the Atlantic Basin.

Tropical Storm Franklin poses the biggest threat and is set to impact Hispaniola by mid-week. The storm’s center had sustained winds of 50 mph as of 11 p.m. ET Monday, located over the Caribbean about 275 miles south of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. It is expected to make a hard turn to the north by Tuesday morning and make landfall in Hispaniola Tuesday night or early Wednesday.

Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the southern side of Hispaniola, while tropical storm watches cover the northern side. There are also tropical storm watches for Turks and Caicos.

Rainfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches, with isolated higher amounts up to 15 inches, will be possible across portions of Hispaniola.