Tropical Storm Cindy has formed in the Gulf of Mexico, with winds at 45 mph.
The storm is nearly stationary with pressure at 999 mb.
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the Houston Metro area. Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from SE Texas coast to the Louisiana/Mississippi border.
The storm poses no threat to Southwest Florida.
The National Weather Service in Miami says Cindy is expected to reach the Louisiana coast sometime late Wednesday and then move inland over western Louisiana and eastern Texas on Thursday.
Forecasters say rain totaling 6 to 9 inches in areas and up to 12 inches in some spots pose a threat to southern portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle through Thursday.