MIAMI -- It's now Tropical Depression Nine, and it's forecast to become a tropical storm before it lands in south Texas Tuesday morning.
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center say tropical-storm-force winds and heavy rains are expected to begin overnight. TD 9 is centered about 375 miles ESE of Port Mansfield in south Texas. Top winds 35, moving west at 18. Tropical storm warnings remain in effect from the border with Mexico to Port O' Connor, Texas, with a watch posted to Sargent, Texas.
The NHC is calling for three to five inches of rain in south Texas, with some areas reaching seven inches. Flash flooding is possible. In northern states of Mexico, rainfall could reach as much as 10 inches. One to three foot seas are expected.
Tropical Storm Franklin is centered about 290 miles south of Santo Domingo, top winds 50 mph. It's expected to bring heavy rains to Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and parts of Puerto Rico Tuesday. Warnings are posted along the southern coasts of both Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and a watch is posted for the other coastal areas of the republic as well as the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Forecasters continue to watch a tropical wave off the Cabo Verde islands. They say there's a 40 percent chance of development over the next two days and a 70 percent chance over the next week.
Meantime, the Hurricane Center says Gert has weakened to a tropical depression and could dissipate or become post-tropical at any time. It's about 375 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands moving WNW at 7, with top winds at 30.
Photo: NHC