Tropical Storm Erika aims for Texas-Mexico coast
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Satellite image taken Thursday at 11:15 p.m. EDT.
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MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Tropical Storm Erika set its sights on the western Gulf of Mexico Friday and was expected to threaten the southern Texas and northern Mexico coastlines this weekend, the National Hurricane Center said.
At 5 a.m. EDT Friday, Erika was rapidly traveling to the west at 24 mph with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. The storm was centered about 500 miles (805 km) east of Brownsville, Texas.
Erika's advance prompted a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch for the southern Texas coast from Port O'Connor to Brownsville.
The government of Mexico has issued a hurricane watch for northeastern Mexico from the Rio Grande River south to Soto La Marina.
According to the NHC, Erika -- forecast to strengthen somewhat over the next 24 hours -- is likely to reach the Texas or Mexico coasts Saturday.
"Storm surge flooding is expected to be 3 to 6 feet above normal tide levels near and to the north of where the center crosses the coast," the forecast said.
