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Tropical Storm Edouard formed Monday night in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico.<\/p>\n
National Hurricane Center<\/p>\n
Tropical Storm Edouard formed Monday<\/a> night in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, prompting tropical storm warnings for coastal Southeast Texas.<\/p>\n As of 7\u00a0p.m. Monday, the rotating center of\u00a0Edouard was about 175 miles southeast of Port Arthur and had sustained winds of 40 mph, and was moving west-northwest at 6 mph.<\/p>\n Tropical storm warnings, which include communities in Chambers County<\/a> like Anahuac and Mont Belvieu, will remain in effect through at least Tuesday ahead of Edouard\u2019s arrival.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Where is Tropical Storm Edouard going next?<\/p>\n Tropical Storm Edouard is expected to continue drifting northwest through Tuesday morning before reaching Southeast Texas likely Tuesday afternoon or evening.\u00a0<\/p>\n TRACK EDOUARD: Keep an eye on Tropical Storm Edouard as it approaches Southeast Texas.<\/a>:<\/p>\n The tropical system only has a window of about 24 hours to gain intensity, with most forecast intensity models keeping\u00a0Edouard well below the 74-mph threshold required to become the first hurricane of the Atlantic season. Still, with above normal warmth found in the northern Gulf where Edouard is located, some strengthening is possible before it reaches landfall.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Confidence is high that Edouard will thread the needle between High Island and Sabine Pass, which would keep the strongest wind gusts and heaviest rainfall likely just east of Houston.\u00a0<\/p>\n What can Houston expect from Edouard?<\/p>\n Flooding:\u00a0The risk of localized flooding will be the primary threat posed by Tropical Storm Edouard, especially near and east of Interstate 45.<\/p>\n NOAA\u2019s Weather Prediction Center has a level 2 of 4 risk of flooding<\/a> across much of Southeast Texas, including the Houston metro, on Tuesday, with that flood risk expanding northward along I-45.\u00a0<\/p>\n The first tropical downpours are expected to reach the coast Tuesday morning, likely reaching Houston by midday Tuesday. Edouard is expected to make landfall by early Tuesday afternoon, bringing widespread locally heavy rain<\/a> through Tuesday evening\u2019s commute. Downpours should dissipate Tuesday evening as Edouard\u2019s remnants move northward towards Dallas-Fort Worth.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Rainfall rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour could quickly overwhelm streets and drainage systems, especially where the heaviest rain bands set up. Additionally, recent hot and dry weather could mean more heavy rain runs off into the bayou network instead of soaking into the soil.\u00a0<\/p>\n Winds:\u00a0Gusty winds are also expected Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning as\u00a0Edouard makes its closest pass<\/a> to Houston.<\/p>\n The area most likely to see tropical-storm-force wind gusts will be along the immediate coast to about Interstate 10 east of Harris County. Here, wind gusts could reach 40 to 50 mph at times, with gusts at times possibly reaching close to 60 mph. For those living along the coast, basic storm preparations like removing yard debris and securing items like outdoor furniture and trash bins should be sufficient measures.<\/p>\n