Gulf Storm Disturbance Is Now Tropical Storm Cindy [UPDATE]

(Updated) HOUSTON, TX — A once disorganized tropical system in the Gulf of Mexico has strengthened into the hurricane seasons third named storm.

Tropical Storm Cindy, which has churned near the Yucatan since Friday, is making its way toward the Texas Gulf Coast and is now expected to make landfall near Sabine Pass in east Texas late Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning, according to weather experts.

Tropical Storm Cindy is expected to bring heavy rain, high winds and coastal storm surge, along with flooding in some areas of the Houston area, which could affect residents in Harris, Brazoria, Galveston, Chambers, and Liberty and other surrounding counties.

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A tropical disturbance of any kind impacting the Houston area can cause widespread flooding, particularly in areas of Meyerland in southwest Houston, Pasadena and Clear Lake in southeast Harris County, and Katy, Cypress and Greenspoint in the west and northwest Houston regions.

The National Weather Service has issued a tropical storm watch for the coastal regions of south east Texas to most of the Louisiana coast in preparation for the storm, according to KTRK.

Those storm watch areas in Texas include Harris County, Galveston County, Liberty County and Chamber's County, which will remain in efect until June 23.

However, according to KHOU meteorologists, much of the rainfall will probably fall east of the Houston area, and won’t have as significant an impact as many fear.

The Harris County Office of Emergency Management has been monitoring the disturbance since Friday and activate the county’s emergency management system by Tuesday evening.

Read Also: Tropical Storm Bret Forms Off Venezuelan Coast [UPDATED]

Meanwhile, experts are still keeping a close eye on Tropical Storm Bret, which formed off the Venezuelan coast in the mid Atlantic on Monday, and could impact coastal residents anywhere between Florida and central Mexico, depending on when the storm makes landfall.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Bret is moving into the southeastern Caribbean , and would impact the Dominican Republic and Cuba as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico.

Stay with Patch for updates on this developing story.

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