MONROE, La. – Tropical Storm Cristobal was gaining strength Saturday as it moved toward a likely landfall on the Gulf Coast later this weekend.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a state of emergency as the state prepared for the arrival of Cristobal, the third named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. The storm's center was expected to come ashore along the Louisiana coast Sunday night, the Weather Channel said.
Forecasters expect the storm to continue to intensify before making its way through the Gulf of Mexico toward Louisiana, which is directly in the storm's path. After weakening to a tropical depression over Mexico, Cristobal was upgraded to a tropical storm.
The National Hurricane Center said Cristobal's maximum sustained winds had strengthened to 50 mph early Saturday and it was moving north at 12 mph. The storm was centered about 360 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River.
Heavy rainfall was expected spread into portions of the Gulf Coast, from east Texas to Florida, this weekend into early next week, the hurricane center said. Flooding is possible in areas of heavy rainfall in areas of the Mid-South and Gulf Coast.
Cristobal was forecast to pass through the central Gulf on Saturday and close in on the U.S. coast by Sunday night, gaining some more strength but not growing into a hurricane.
Hurricane season officially began Monday.
Federal forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration last month predicted as many as 19 named storms would form, of which as many as 10 will be hurricanes. It's just one of many forecasts that predict an unusually busy season in 2020.
"This could be a very active season," AccuWeather meteorologist Dan Kottlowski said. "The more active the season, the more likely we'll have at least one, two or three major events."
GRAPHIC: USA TODAY's storm tracker
Forecasters said the storm could cause heavy rains from East Texas to Florida this weekend and early into next week. A tropical storm watch was posted for the northern Gulf of Mexico coast from Intracoastal City, Louisiana, to the Alabama-Florida border.
“Now is the time to make your plans, which should include the traditional emergency items along with masks and hand sanitizer as we continue to battle the coronavirus pandemic,” Edwards said in a statement released Thursday.
What's changed: How to prepare for hurricane season in the COVID-19 pandemic
Early Saturday, dangerous flooding was already occurring in portions of Mexico and Central America, according to the hurricane center.
A storm surge warning is in effect from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs, Mississippi. A tropical storm warning is in effect for areas including New Orleans. Tropical storm force winds are possible Saturday night along the northern Gulf Coast, from southeastern Louisiana to the western Florida Panhandle.
Contributing: Associated Press; Doyle Rice, USA TODAY
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Tropical Storm Cristobal takes aims at Gulf Coast but is not expected to be a hurricane - USA TODAY
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