(CBS News) Tropical Storm Debby has formed in the central Gulf of Mexico.
The National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm warning for a portion of the Louisiana coast. The tropical storm warning covers the Louisiana coast from the mouth of the Pearl River westward to Morgan City. New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain are not included.
A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours.
At 5:00 p.m. ET Debby was located about 220 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River, moving north at 6 mph. Maximum sustained winds were 50 mph with higher gusts, with tropical storm-force winds extending outwards up to 175 miles.
Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours.
The center of Debby is forecast to move over the Northern Gulf of Mexico during the next few days. A slow northward motion is expected tonight, followed by a westward turn on Sunday.
Tropical storm conditions are expected to reach the coast by Sunday night.
The combination of a storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters.
Debby is expected to produce rain accumulations of 3 to 6 inches along the Gulf Coast from southern Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle, with possible isolated maximum amounts of 10 inches.