Mexico and Texas under hurricane watch as Tropical Storm Hermine approaches

A quickly formed system has developed into Tropical Storm Hermine and has its sights set on southeastern Texas and northeastern Mexico.  The storm has strengthened in recent hours and a Hurricane Watch has now been issued.

The National Hurricane Center reports that Tropical Storm Hermine is now packing winds of 50 mph.  Most troubling is that the center's forecasters say additional strengthening is reported and it may approach hurricane strength (74 mph winds) by the time the storm makes landfall tonight.

• In pictures:  View the slideshow to the left for the latest forecast track and satellite images of Tropical Storm Hermine
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Hermine is moving to the north-northwest at 13 mph and is expected to maintain that general direction until it strikes land somewhere just south of the Texas / Mexico border.  At the current time the storm is 129 miles east-southeast of La Pesca, Mexico or 204 miles south-southeast of Brownsville, TX.

A Hurricane Watch is now in effect for the area from Rio San Fernando, Mexico north to Baffin Bay, Texas just south of Corpus Christi.  A Tropical Storm Warning covers are wide area from La Cruz, Mexico to Port O'Connor, Texas.

Tropical storm strength winds (38 mph) extend out from the center of the Tropical Storm Hermine 105 miles.  However, as with all tropical systems, the greatest danger is not the wind - it is the water.

Storm surge near the landfall area and to the north may reach 2 to 4 feet above ground level.  Heavy rainfall accumulations from 4 to 8 inches are possible with up to 12 inches in isolated areas.  Life-threatening flash floods and mudslides are possible.