Storm Watch: Katia Regains Hurricane strength, Gulf Depression Has Been Upgraded to Tropical Storm Lee

Tropical Depression 13 is now Tropical Storm Lee. According to the National Hurricane Center's 2 p.m. advisory, the newly formed tropical storm is packing winds of about 40 mph, with gusts of up to 60 mph. Lee is about 200 miles southeast of Cameron, Louisiana., and is moving in a northwest direction. the storm is still moving at a slow pace of 2 mph, and is expected to continue that pace through the next day. Hurricane specialists say The storm is expected to strengthen during the next two days. It is also moving possibly erratically to the north or northwest over the next day. Lee appears to currently be "trapped" in a "flat ridge pattern" and also from a deep trough off the United State's east coast that is expected to continue blocking the storm from moving over the next 36 hours. With the possibility of it pouring up to 20 inches of rain on Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama through Sunday........ parts of Mississippi through parts of Texas - including low-lying New Orleans - have been put under a tropical storm warning. Hurricane specialists say that by tonight southern Louisiana could experience some tornadoes due to lee. Louisiana's governor declared a state of emergency Thursday because of the threat of flash flooding. Tropical Storm Katia has also re-strengthened to a hurricane. According to the hurricane center, Katia's maximum sustained winds grew to about 75 mph and the system is moving in the west-northwest direction at 14 mph. It is about 705 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands. Although a hurricane again, hurricane center specialists said Katia it is facing a "relatively hostile environment." It is still to early to tell what effect Katia will have on the U.S. but we will continue to follow these storms as they continue to develop.