Tropical Storm Edouard is expected to strengthen significantly before reaching the northwestern Gulf Coast later today, with the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) warning that it could approach hurricane strength before making landfall.

As of 7 am CDT Tuesday, Edouard was located about 40 miles southeast of Cameron, Louisiana, and 70 miles east-southeast of Port Arthur, Texas.

The storm had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was moving west-northwest at 8 mph.

The NHC said Edouard is expected to continue moving west-northwestward to northwestward over the next day or two, reaching the northwestern Gulf Coast later Tuesday before moving inland over southeastern Texas tonight.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect from High Island, Texas, to Cameron, Louisiana, while a Tropical Storm Warning covers the area from Port Bolivar, Texas, to the Vermilion/Iberia Parish line in Louisiana.

A Storm Surge Warning is also in effect from High Island to the Vermilion/Cameron Parish line, with storm surge of 3 to 5 feet possible in some areas.

The NHC said tropical-storm conditions are expected to reach the coast later Tuesday morning, while hurricane conditions are possible later in the day within the Hurricane Watch area.

Edouard is also expected to bring heavy rainfall, with 3 to 6 inches forecast across parts of the upper Texas coast and inland through east-central Texas. Isolated totals of up to 9 inches are possible, while far southwestern Louisiana could receive 2 to 4 inches.

The rainfall could trigger flash flooding, particularly in low-lying and urban areas, with river flooding also possible.

A tornado or two is also possible across parts of southwestern Louisiana and southeastern Texas this afternoon and evening.

The NHC said rapid weakening is expected after Edouard moves inland.