8 PM CDT on Larry and a recap on Kate and the coastal flood.

[WXBUFFJIM]

Good evening. Tropical Storm Larry has formed in the Gulf Of Mexico. Maximum sustained winds for the past day have been at tropical storm force. However yesterday this system had more frontal characteristics with it. Now that the stationary frontal boundary has weakened, convection is able to wrap around the center and the low pressure system in the Bay Of Campeche has tightened and has become tropical. Thus tropical storm Larry.

The latest on Tropical Storm Larry as of 7 PM CDT has it centered about 300 miles south southeast of Tampico, Mexico.

Larry is nearly stationary and it's not expected to move much at all during the next day or two.

Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph with higher gusts. little overall change in strength is expected during the next 24 hours or so. However with slowly falling pressures over the past several hours, I wouldn't rule out maybe some slight strengthening later tonight. It certainly looks tropical in nature and has little frontal characteristics, thus tropical storm Larry.

Tropical storm force winds extends outward 85 miles from the center. Minimum central pressure is now 1003 mb or 29.62 inches.



With a northeasterly wind continuing along the south Texas coast, coastal flood warnings, a small craft advisory, and a heavy surf advisory are in effect along the south Texas coast from Baffin Bay down to the mouth of the Rio Grande River. All persons wanting to venture into the waters of the Gulf Of Mexico along the south Texas coast may want to think twice about that until winds and waves subside.

Meanwhile Hurricane Kate has maximum sustained winds of 75 mph with higher gusts. Kate could intensify into a category 2 hurricane over the next day or two. Kate is centered about 1350 miles east of Bermuda. The track takes Kate well east and northeast of Bermuda as a trough picks up Kate and shoves her northward into the frigid waters of the North Atlantic later in the forecast. Thus kate is only a hazard to marine and shipping interests and Bermuda doesn't need to worry about it and either does the United States.

Another update to come later this evening on the entire tropics and marine hazards as well. There's plenty of marine hazards in south Texas tonight. Stay tuned.

Jim