Published: Aug. 15, 2007 at 11:49 AM
T.S. Erin forms in Gulf, Dean strengthens
MIAMI, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- A tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico surprised Miami forecasters by strengthening into Tropical Storm Erin on Wednesday.
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami said at 11 a.m. the depression was poorly organized but soon after received data from a hurricane reconnaissance aircraft that sustained wind speeds had surpassed the 39 mph threshold and the depression became the fifth named Atlantic storm of the year.
A tropical storm warning was issued for the Texas coast from Freeport southward, while a tropical storm watch was in effect for the northeast coast of Mexico from Rio San Fernando northward.
At 11 a.m., Erin was about 250 miles east of Brownsville, Texas, moving toward the west-northwest around 14 mph, forecasters said.
Further east in the Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Storm Dean strengthened about 1,045 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. The system had sustained winds of 60 mph, and was moving westward at 20 mph.
"Dean could become a hurricane tomorrow," the forecast said.
