Thaindian News

MIAMI (BNO NEWS) — Tropical Depression Ten strengthened into Tropical Storm Hermine on early Monday morning, forecasters said, and the storm is expected to make landfall on the U.S.-Mexico border on early Tuesday.

Forecasters at the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said Hermine was located about 235 miles (375 kilometers) southeast of La Pesca, a small town in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, at 5 a.m. EDT (0900 GMT). The storm is moving toward the north at 8 miles (13 kilometer) per hour, with a turn toward the northeast and an increase in forward speed expected later on Monday.

“On the forecast track, the center of Hermine is expected to approach the coast of northeastern Mexico or extreme southern Texas [..] early Tuesday morning,” said forecaster Brown. It is expected that Hermine will make landfall just after 2 a.m. EDT (0600 GMT) on Tuesday.

Hermine’s maximum sustained winds increased overnight to near 40 miles (65 kilometers) per hour, with higher gusts. “Hermine is forecast to traverse warm water and remain in a low shear environment until landfall,” Brown said. “As a result, steady strengthening is predicted and the official intensity is near the consensus of the guidance.”

A tropical storm warning was issued for the coast of Mexico from Tampico to the mouth of the Rio Grande on late Sunday evening. On early Monday, a tropical storm warning was also issued for the coast of Texas from the mouth of the Rio Grande to Baffin Bay.

“Additional watches or warnings could be required for portions of southern Texas later today,” Brown said. “A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within about 24 hours.”

As of 5 a.m. EDT (0900 GMT), tropical storm force winds extend outwards from the center of Hermine for about 105 miles (165 kilometers) to the east of the center. “Tropical storm conditions are expected to reach the warning area tonight,” Brown said.

Besides strong winds, Hermine is expected to produce rainfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches over northeastern Mexico into south Texas with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches possible. “These rainfall amounts may cause life-threatening flash flood and mudslides, especially over the higher terrain of northeastern Mexico,” Brown warned.

After moving into Texas, Hermine is expected to move into Oklahoma as a post-tropical depression by early Thursday morning.