Tropical Storm Bill formed in the Gulf of Mexico late Monday night, becoming the second named storm of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season. The system is expected to bring heavy rain threats to eastern Texas, but it's no threat to Florida.

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Tropical Storm Bill Advisory

11 p.m. update: Bill expected to soak portions of Texas and Oklahoma.

Watches and Warnings

Changes with this warning: None.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
*Port O'Connor to San Luis Pass, Texas

Discussion and 48-hour outlook

At 10 p.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Bill was located near latitude 29.5 north, longitude 97.0 west. Bill is moving toward the north near 12 mph (19 km/h). This general motion is expected to continue on Wednesday with a turn to the northeast on Thursday.

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Bill is expected to become a tropical depression early Wednesday.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 150 miles (240 km) from the center. These winds are confined to a few rainbands to the southeast of the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1000 mb (29.53 inches).

Hazards affecting land

Rainfall: Bill is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 4-8 inches over eastern Texas and eastern Oklahoma, and 3-6 inches over western Arkansas and southern Missouri, with possible isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches in eastern Texas.

Wind: Tropical storm conditions are occurring within the warning area to the northeast and east of the center.

Storm surge: The combination of storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters. The water could reach the following heights above ground if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide:

— Upper Texas coast and Western Louisiana coast: 1-2 feet

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the right of the landfall location. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.

Tornadoes: A few tornadoes may occure over parts of southeast and east central Texas and western Louisiana today and through early Wednesday.

Next advisory

Complete advisory: 5 p.m.

Tropical Storm Bill

  • Location: 29.5 N, 97.0 W
  • Winds: 40 mph
  • Movement: N at 12 mph
  • Pressure: 1000 mb (29.53 inches)

Track the tropics

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