Tropical Storm Moves Toward South Texas

A strengthening tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico is moving toward the South Texas coast, but is on a track to bypass most of the state’s oil refineries, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.

Tropical Storm Erin — which was upgraded to a tropical storm Wednesday following its previous status as a tropical depression — is expected to dump heavy rain in southeast Texas and along other parts of the coast beginning Wednesday night, AP said.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the system is expected to make landfall

In the Gulf, Shell Oil Co. evacuated 188 people from offshore facilities in the storm’s path, AP said. Most of the state’s oil refineries are further north, around Houston and near the Louisiana border.

Forecasters are also keeping an eye on Tropical Storm Dean, which is further south and moving toward Mexico and Central America, AP reported.