Some strengthening is expected in the next 48 hours.
Tropical Storm Katia formed early Wednesday morning (Sept. 6) in the southern Gulf of Mexico. Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center said the storm is expected to stay off the coast of Mexico through Friday morning.
As of 4 a.m., Tropical Storm Katia was 105 miles east of Tampico, Mexico, and was moving southeast at 2 mph. Forecasters said the storm is expected to turn southeast within 24 hours and continue moving in that direction through Thursday. Forecasters expect it to turn southwest on Friday and make landfall in Mexico over the weekend. (latest track)
Tropical Storm Katia at 4 a.m. had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph with higher gusts. The National Hurricane Center said some strengthening is expected in the next 48 hours.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center.
The National Hurricane Center said the storm currently poses no threat to land, but a tropical storm watch could be issued for portions of the Mexican state of Veracruz.
The tropical depression that strengthened to become Katia formed in the Gulf Tuesday.
The National Hurricane Center also is tracking:
— Hurricane Irma, a Category 5 storm that made its first landfall overnight in the Caribbean as it heads toward Florida.
— Tropical Storm Jose, which is expected to become a hurricane in the Atlantic by Wednesday night. Read more.
Carlie Kollath Wells is a morning reporter at NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Have an early-bird tip? Send it to her: cwells@nola.com or Twitter @carlie_kollath.
