The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season comes to a close Saturday, bringing an end to a season that saw 11 hurricanes compared to the average seven, billions of dollars in damage and deaths and destruction hundreds of miles from where storms came ashore on the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Plastic chemical manufacturing plants line the Gulf Coast and create concerns for wildlife and human health.

Storms have fired up in Central Texas and are headed towards Houston.

Hurricane Milton officially made landfall near Siesta Key on Florida’s Gulf Coast Wednesday evening.

As Hurricane Milton heads for Florida, here is a live radar we have provided to track the monstrous storm.

The National Retail Federation is urging the Biden administration to intervene in a labor strike affecting U.S. East and Gulf Coast container ports, which has disrupted operations since the master contract between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance expired on September 30.

Top Biden administration officials met with port operators ahead of a possible strike at East and Gulf coast ports, with a union contract set to expire late Monday.

Massive Hurricane Helene crashed into Florida’s sparsely populated Big Bend region, bringing storm surge and high winds across the state’s Gulf Coast communities before ripping into southern Georgia.

Heat index climbs to 105° Sunday with showers and storm bubbling into Sunday night

Coastal communities in Texas may be impacted by heavy rainfall and flash flooding from the system.

Fresh Gulf Coast shellfish in a laid-back setting, Pier 6 specializes in local seafood, including oysters, and shares tips for enjoying them like a pro.

Authorities are lowering water levels in Lake Houston and Lake Conroe to mitigate flood risks from an approaching tropical system expected to impact the area with heavy rains.

The number of heat-related howler monkeys deaths in Mexico has risen to 157, with a tragically small number of the primates treated or recovering.

More than 15 million people from Texas to Florida are under threat of severe storms and the potential for more tornadoes.

U.S. officials who predict, prepare for and respond to natural disasters have a message for Floridians: It’s not a matter of if but when a hurricane will hit the state.

Florida wildlife officials say a sperm whale that became famous after beaching itself on a sandbar has died.

A suspect has been shot by an officer with the US Marshals’ Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force on Wednesday in east Harris County, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

This year, El Nino is in place heading into winter for the first time in four years, driving the outlook for warmer-than-average temperatures for the northern tier of the continental United States, according to NOAA’s U.S. Winter Outlook released last week by the Climate Prediction Center — a division of the National Weather Service.

The Biden administration has awarded $1.4 billion to projects improving railway safety and boosting rail capacity.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced 31 Fund for Veterans’ Assistance (FVA) grants totaling over $6.9 million were awarded to 26 Gulf Coast area veteran service organizations as part of the Texas Veterans Commission’s (TVC) Big Check Tour, according to a release.

Floridians pray that when Idalia hits the Gulf Coast it won’t join the long list of destructive Atlantic Ocean storms whose names started with “I.”.

Forecasters are warning of possible flash flooding and landslides across the eastern Yucatan peninsula and western Cuba, and Florida is bracing for a possible hurricane by midweek, as a weather system off the coast of Mexico is expected to become a tropical storm by Sunday.

Another record-setting day of high temperatures hit the Dallas/Fort Worth area before a slight cooling trend moves into the area.

ExxonMobil announced Thursday that its Beaumont refinery expansion project has added 250,000 barrels per day of capacity to one of the largest refining and petrochemical complexes along the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Portland, Oregon received nearly a foot of snow in a single day in what proved to be its second-snowiest day in history.

Kam Franklin, lead singer of the Gulf Coast soul band The Suffers is known for her cool style, so we were delighted when she introduced us to a local stylist she works with -- who also has ties to Beyonce.

It starts with love, new celebrity guest co-host on Houston Life

A satellite video shared by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows just how severe Tuesday’s thunderstorms were as they moved across Texas.

The Sea Port Oil Terminal would be 30 miles off the Texas coast and is one of four proposed offshore terminals designed to dramatically expand the U.S. oil export capacity.

The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to strengthening the Coast Guard community and service by supporting members and families, celebrated selected honorees who have exemplified heroism and mission excellence.

Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. on Houston Life, The Suffers’ Kam Franklin!

Federal weather officials say drought and wildfire risks will remain elevated in the western states while warmer than average temperatures will greet the Southwest, Gulf Coast and East Coast this winter.

Hurricane Ian is currently hitting the Gulf Coast of Florida after strengthening to a Category 4 storm before making landfall, possibly near Port Charlotte.

At Bush Intercontinental Airport, there are several flight arrivals from Florida with many Texans leaving the Sunshine State as The National Hurricane Center forecasts show Hurricane Ian hitting the state’s Gulf Coast.

An ailing manatee that was found and rehabilitated in Texas late last year is now in Florida after being flown from Texas on a cargo plane.

Heat index values climb to 108 to 110 degrees

A crew working on the Alabama coast is assessing the remains of the last slave ship known to have landed in the United States, more than 160 years ago.

As I write this and check my pool water, it’s an amazing 88°! Totally ready for swimming, but the pool is a shallow body of water and easy to heat up when we’re having record heat! The Gulf of Mexico water is still hovering in the upper 70s to low 80s near shore, but 80° is that magical threshold where the water is warm enough to sustain tropical storms and hurricanes. And that number, which calculates to 26° Celsius, is abundant and even higher goes to 28°C right now:

The show-stopping group stops by Houston Life before hitting the road for a nationwide tour

I had an email the other day that comes with a pretty simple answer:

The Memorial Park Conservancy received a $10 million pledge from the Cyvia and Melvin Wolff Family Foundation to reintroduce native Gulf Coast prairies to Houston’s largest park.

As recovery continues in Louisiana after Hurricane Ida slammed the Gulf Coast state, help is in region thanks to generous donations and support from a Houston-area business.

A major U.S. port was the target last month of suspected nation-state hackers.

Tropical Storm Nicholas is expected to strengthen as it approaches the Texas coast, threatening to bring heavy rain and floods. Tropical storm warnings have been issued for many of the state’s coastal regions.

Ike made landfall over Galveston Island as a Category 2 Hurricane at 2:10 a.m. on Saturday, September 13, 2008. The storm devastated the regions, killing dozens and causing billions in damage. The Houston-area locals that lived through shared what they remember most about Ike.

Brazosport Independent School District announced late Sunday its schools and offices will close Monday ahead of Tropical Storm Nicholas’ landfall along the Gulf Coast.

At 400 PM CDT (2100 UTC), the center of Post-Tropical Cyclone Nicholas was located near latitude 32.0 North, longitude 92.7 West. The post-tropical cyclone is moving toward the north near 2 mph (4...

Joe Sobol, owner of Big Easy Construction in New Orleans, has bad news for homeowners who’ve been calling about roofs damaged by Hurricane Ida.

President Joe Biden is pledging robust federal help for the Northeastern and Gulf states battered by Hurricane Ida and for Western states beset by wildfires.

Hurricane Ida may lead to a hike in gas prices after it slammed into the Louisiana Gulf Coast Sunday.

With more than 1 million customers in Louisiana and Mississippi having lost power, Hurricane Ida is sure to take a toll on the energy, chemical and shipping industries that have major hubs along the Gulf Coast.

Officials are offering new hope for the safety of U.S. schoolchildren threatened by COVID-19.

Tropical Storm Ida formed early Thursday afternoon in the Western Caribbean, and as of midday Friday, it was projected that the storm would track into the Gulf eventually as a hurricane of at least Category 2 strength.

Tropical Storm Ida has formed in the Caribbean and forecasters say it's aimed at the U.S. Gulf Coast, prompting Louisiana’s governor to declare a state of emergency and forecasters to announce a hurricane watch for New Orleans.

The U.S. Gulf Coast is glowing like a bad sunburn on maps that show COVID-19 trouble spots in red.

Tropical Depression Grace is drenching Haiti, dumping up to 15 inches of rain on a quake-damaged landscape as thousands of people huddle in fields and search for survivors.

The National Hurricane Center said Fred has regained tropical storm status in the Gulf of Mexico as parts of the Caribbean began seeing impacts from tropical depression Grace.

The Rosenberg Railroad Museum is nestled next to four active railway tracks located in Historic Downtown Rosenberg.

Weather forecasters say a storm that has been lashing Florida over the past day has intensified into a hurricane.

Tropical Depression Claudette continues its move across the Gulf coast states this morning, dropping heavy rain and tornadoes along the way. Latest coordinates continue to show an ENE movement at an increased speed of 17mph with the center in Georgia, heading toward the east coast. It is expected to strengthen once again into a tropical storm as it nears the Carolina coast. Later tonight and into Monday.

Twenty years ago, Tropical Storm Allison made landfall and left Houston under water. It remains the costliest tropical storm to ever hit the United States.

The KPRC 2 Severe Weather Team is monitoring severe storms moving through central and east Texas Friday evening.

Friday cold front brings weekend weather changes to SE Texas!

The bulk of the emissions released during the winter storm and power crisis in Texas last week were from the Houston region, according to an analysis by Texas environmental groups. Plants tripping offline in the extreme cold led the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to order power outages to avoid overloading the grid. Those facilities spewed 3.5 million pounds of additional pollution in the air during the power crisis, according to an analysis of notices by Texas environmental groups Environmental Defense Fund, Environment Texas and Air Alliance Houston. AdThat’s nearly as much air pollution released last summer during Hurricane Laura, when facilities in the Beaumont and Port Arthur area reported releasing an estimated 4 million pounds of emissions, according to the Houston Chronicle. Nearly 200 facilities in 54 counties reported excess air emissions between Feb. 11 and Monday, according to the analysis.

Two people play in the snow in San Antonio, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021. Snow and ice blanketed large swaths of the U.S. on Sunday, prompting canceled flights, making driving perilous and reaching into areas as far south as Texas’ Gulf Coast, where snow and sleet were expected overnight. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)(Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

DALLAS (AP) – Wintry weather is forecast for much of the U.S. on Sunday, with freezing temperatures expected to dip as snow falls as far south as Texas’ Gulf Coast. “Typically, we just don’t have quite this much cold air in place that far south,” said Marc Chenard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center. AdWinter weather conditions are affecting large portions of the U.S., but it is rare for them to extend so far south, Chenard said. “We’re looking at potentially over a quarter inch of freezing rain, and that will cause significant impact,” Chenard said. “We may even see some freezing rain get as far as New Orleans by early Monday.”Texas Gov.

Winds are turning back onshore and with a southeast breeze moisture is slowly and surely returning to Southeast Texas. Expect a warm and slightly more humid Thursday afternoon. Thursday AfternoonWith more moisture in place patchy fog could be an issue for the Friday morning commute as well as our weekend mornings. Fog Friday MorningThis surge of moisture and unseasonably warm weather is ahead of a couple cold fronts on the way. The second front next Tuesday will cut temperatures slightly returning seasonable weather, afternoon temperatures in the low 70s, back to Houston for Thanksgiving.

HOUSTON – The storm is expected to weaken just slightly down to a strong tropical storm before making landfall somewhere between Cedar Key and Clearwater, Florida by this evening. It will bring heavy rain, wind and up to a 2-3 foot storm surge during high tide across central and NW Florida coastline. Eta is approaching the central Florida coastline this eveningEta will move across Florida tonight and tomorrowWe might be nearing the end of hurricane season but the tropics are still very busy! Tropical Storm Theta is churning in the north Atlantic heading towards Spain and Portugal and we will likely be looking at “Iota” over the next few days tracking in the Caribbean towards Central America. Busy TropicsTHETA marks the 29th named storm of the 2020 season breaking the record for the most named tropical systems in a hurricane season.

Hurricane Zeta passed through Wednesday leaving much of the city and metro area without power. Even as Zeta battered the south, the upcoming election was still on the mind of some residents. “Guys, we received the brunt of Zeta, and Zeta gave us a good punch,” McInnis told WDSU-TV. More than 875,000 customers were without electricity in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, including about 350,000 in metro New Orleans. Winds could be “especially severe” in the southern Appalachian Mountains, where flash flooding is possible, the hurricane center said.

MIAMI – Newly formed Tropical Storm Zeta gradually strengthened Sunday in the western Caribbean and forecasters said it would likely become a hurricane before hitting Mexico's resort-dotted Yucatan Peninsula and the U.S. Gulf Coast in coming days. Zeta was the earliest named 27th Atlantic storm recorded in an already historic hurricane season. The system was centered about 260 miles (420 kilometers) southeast of Cozumel island late Sunday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. The government is still handing out aid, including sheet roofing, to Yucatan residents hit by Hurricane Delta and Tropical Storm Gamma earlier this month. The hurricane center said it could make landfall anywhere from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle.

Zeta is moving toward the east-northeast near 55 mph (89 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue through tonight. On the forecast track, the center of Zeta will emerge over the western Atlantic this evening. Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts. A sustained wind of 39 mph (63 km/h) and a gust to 46 mph (74 km/h) were recently reported at Ocean City, Maryland. RAINFALL: The last of the heavy rainfall along the track of Zeta will impact the Mid-Atlantic through this evening.

This photo provided by Greg Crippen shows the scene where a U.S. Navy training plane crashed in an Alabama residential neighborhood near the Gulf Coast, Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 near Foley, Ala. (Greg Crippen via AP)FOLEY, Ala. – A U.S. Navy training plane that took off from Florida crashed Friday in an Alabama residential neighborhood near the Gulf Coast, killing both people in the plane, authorities said. Zach Harrell, a spokesperson for Commander, Naval Air Forces, said both people in the T-6B Texan II training plane died, but they weren't immediately releasing their names. The crash occurred southeast of Mobile, near the city of Foley and the town of Magnolia Springs. The plane had flown out of Naval Air Station Whiting Field, about 30 miles (48.28 kilometers) northeast of Pensacola, Florida, Navy spokeswoman Julie Ziegenhorn said. The U.S. Department of Defense and the Navy were set to handle the investigation, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office tweeted.

After Hurricane Delta made landfall Friday evening as a Category 2 storm with winds of 100 mph near Creole, Louisiana, it has continually weakened overnight and through this morning and as of 10am become a depression. Delta weakens to a depression (KPRC)The biggest threat is still rain with 2-4 inches likely along its path with some isolated amounts possible as much as 6-10 inches for the lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys. Delta picks up speed toward the northeast (KPRC)WindCameron and Lake Charles, Louisiana, which took a direct hit from Hurricane Laura, stayed on the “clean” side of Delta -- west of the eye. Compared to Laura, Delta is not as strong and not as well-organized. Delta made landfall near Creole Louisiana, only about 12 miles to the east of the track of Hurricane Laura six weeks earlier.

HOUSTON – We’ve assembled a list of live webcams from across the Gulf Coast so you can keep track of the conditions as Hurricane Laura approaches. In addition to the webcams listed below, you can follow any of our livestream offerings throughout the day at Click2Houston.com/watchlive. KPRC 2 is not responsible for the video provided by any of the cameras listed below. As with any hurricane, the feed from the cameras may be interrupted during bad weather. GalvestonPort NechesGrand Isle Beach, LouisianaLake Charles, Louisiana area (powered by KPLC-TV)L’auberge Casino Resort in Lake Charles, LouisianaLake Arthur, LouisianaLouisiana DOT traffic camerasLafayette, Louisiana

HOUSTON – Some schools are closed Friday and some events have been canceled amid concerns over Hurricane Delta as the storm makes a run at the Gulf Coast. SchoolsThe Anahuac Independent School District has called off classes due to the possibility of high winds and rain that is expected throughout the day. “High winds could affect the transportation of students this afternoon and put our staff on the roads in unsafe conditions,” district officials said in a written statement. EventsThe Commemorative Air Force Wings Over Houston Airshow has been canceled Friday’s show because of high winds and low cloud ceilings that expected in the area. PlacesSan Luis Pass County Park in Brazoria County is closed from Friday to Oct. 16 because of concerns over high tides and storm surge from Hurricane Delta.

Louisiana residents still recovering from the devastation of a powerful hurricane less than two months ago braced for another hit as Hurricane Delta steamed north through the Gulf on Thursday after swiping Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula. The projected path included the southwest area of Louisiana where Category 4 Hurricane Laura made landfall less than two months ago. Randazzo watched pieces of one of his restaurants, Panorama Music House, fly past a meteorologist’s car on a Facebook Live video during Hurricane Laura. The most recent forecast for Hurricane Delta has the storm making landfall “almost precisely” where Hurricane Laura struck — a region where homes and electrical infrastructure are still damaged, Edwards said in a radio interview. New Orleans, well to the east of the projected landfall area, was expected to escape the worst of Hurricane Delta.

Rain and wind, main impacts from Delta (KPRC)Hurricane Delta continues to be a massive, dangerous and major hurricane. Landfall is expected along the Louisiana coast just east of Cameron some late this afternoon or early evening. The storm is being pushed into Louisiana due to a trough of low pressure moving into Texas. Although Delta will be to our east, the rain and wind will make for an uncomfortable day. After Delta, the next ten days are warmer than normal with very little rain.

The storm being watched Wednesday was Hurricane Delta, the 25th named storm of the Atlantic's unprecedented hurricane season. Forecasts placed most of Louisiana within Delta's path, with the latest National Hurricane Center estimating landfall in the state on Friday. Along with getting hit by Hurricane Laura and escaping Hurricane Sally, Louisiana saw heavy flooding June 7 from Tropical Storm Cristobal. Tropical Storm Beta prompted tropical storm warnings in mid-September as it slowly crawled up the northeast Texas coast. “Not seeing any signs of any additional tropical weather in the extended which is OK with us because we are SO DONE with Hurricane Season 2020,” they wrote.

Fishermen pull in a boat before the arrival of Hurricane Delta in Puerto Juarez, Cancun, Mexico, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. Hurricane Delta rapidly intensified into a potentially catastrophic Category 4 hurricane Tuesday on a course to hammer southeastern Mexico and then continue on to the U.S. Gulf coast this week. (AP Photo/Victor Ruiz Garcia)MEXICO CITY – Hurricane Delta rapidly intensified into a dangerous Category 4 storm Tuesday while on a course to hammer Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and then continue on to the U.S. Gulf Coast later in the week. From Tulum to Cancun, tourism-dependent communities still soaked by the remnants of Tropical Storm Gamma could bear the brunt of Delta. Delta increased in strength 80 mph, more than doubling from a 60 mph storm at 2 pm EDT Monday to 140 mph at 2 pm EDT Tuesday.

Two storms in the Gulf (again) looks to be the headline this week with Gamma having trouble with the kickstart due to wind shear and eventually being absorbed by stronger Delta. Right now, Delta is forecast to become a Category 2 hurricane with 105-mph winds headed toward Louisiana. The Florida high is still there (this is an extension of the Bermuda High), but it’s been beaten down a bit by our cold fronts. And as you can see on the forecast map below, a low-pressure system in the upper atmosphere is expected to be over Texas by mid-week. Right now, the only immediate concerns are at the coast with 1-2′ higher tides, rip currents and off-shore seas of 6-9′.

Location 90 miles S of Knoxville Tennessee Wind 15 mph Heading E at 15 mph Pressure 29.77 Coordinates 84.1W, 34.5NDiscussionAt 1100 PM EDT (0300 UTC), the center of Post-Tropical Cyclone Delta was located near latitude 34.5 North, longitude 84.1 West. The post-tropical cyclone is moving toward the east near 15 mph, and this motion is expected to continue tonight and Monday morning. Maximum sustained winds are near 15 mph (30 km/h) with higher gusts. Some further weakening is possible tonight as a new surface low develops in the Carolinas, and Delta's surface low is expected to be absorbed by this new low pressure area on Monday. Moderate to major river flooring will continue across the Calcasieu and Mermentau river basins in Louisiana through much of next week

HOUSTON – With Tropical Storm Beta bashing the Gulf coast, first responders may get a chance to put some unique training to the test. Inside a warehouse near Austin, Rick Cummins trains the next generation of water rescuers at his Fathom Academy. Since it opened two and a half years ago, Cummins has trained about 300 first responders, with more than 90% of them from the Houston area. The goal is to put them in real-life flooding scenarios that we’ve seen in recent years, including Hurricane Harvey and Tropical Storm Imelda. Cummins also had tips for people who might find themselves stuck in high water and in need of rescue.

Greg Abbott discussed the state’s response plan Sunday as Tropical Storm Beta slowly approaches the Gulf Coast. KPRC 2: What does the state’s response look like Sunday night? Abbott: "We’ve already allocated resources in multiple regions across the entire Gulf Coast, not knowing exactly where the storm will come across. Abbott: I do, and we typically do if it’s going to be a hurricane, it typically would be issued in advance. Obviously there’s been a lack of clarity about exactly where the storm is going to hit.

Forecasters said Beta was not expected to bring the same amount of rainfall that Texas experienced during either Hurricane Harvey in 2017 or Tropical Storm Imelda last year. The first rain bands from Beta reached the Texas coast on Sunday, but the heaviest rain wasn't expected to arrive until Monday into Tuesday. If the system makes landfall in Texas, it would be the ninth named storm to make landfall in the continental U.S. in 2020. A tropical storm warning was in effect for Bermuda. Wilfred, which had been a tropical storm, weakened to a tropical depression earlier Sunday.

HOUSTON – As Hurricane Laura barreled toward the Gulf Coast a few weeks ago, in and around Houston, plants and refineries scrambled to shut down. During the shutdown and restart process surrounding Hurricane Laura, energy companies reported to TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) that 8 million pounds of emissions were released in Harris, Brazoria, Jefferson and Orange counties. There’s some opinion there but here’s a fact:During that exact same period that refineries shut down for Hurricane Laura, the state of Texas unplugged its air quality monitors in the storm’s path. Our state’s version of the Environmental Protection Agency is the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). See what TCEQ did in response to Hurricane Laura.

(AP) – As rain and wind from Sally started reaching the Gulf Coast, the manager of a Mississippi alligator ranch was just hoping he wouldn’t have to deal with a repeat of what happened during Hurricane Katrina. That’s when about 250 alligators escaped their enclosures as storm surge pushed water over the grounds. “I’m thinking a sigh of relief somewhat,” said manager Tim Parker, who took over Gulf Coast Gator Ranch & Tours after Katrina. As the hurricane moved east of Mississippi, the surge forecast was reduced to no more than 4 feet (1.2 meters). Parker’s farm has alligators up to 14 feet long, roaming and swimming through ponds, sand dunes and tall marsh grass.

A curfew was called in the coastal Alabama city of Gulf Shores due to life-threatening conditions. The county includes Pensacola, one of the largest cities on the Gulf Coast. Landfall was expected on the northern Gulf Coast early Wednesday. Although the hurricane had the Alabama and Florida coasts in its sights Wednesday, its effects were felt all along the northern Gulf Coast. With Hurricane Sally expected to dump rain for days, the problem could be worse than normal, she said.

People play in a flooded parking lot at Navarre Beach, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, in Pensacola Beach, Fla. Hurricane Sally is crawling toward the northern Gulf Coast at just 2 mph, a pace that's enabling the storm to gather huge amounts of water to eventually dump on land. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)Here are the latest developments on tropical weather (all times local):PENSACOLA, Fla. — Sally has restrengthened into a powerful Category 2 hurricane as it veers eastward and crawls toward a potential landfall between the Florida Panhandle and Mobile Bay. The National Hurricane Center said early Wednesday that the storm's sustained winds had increased to 100 mph (161 kph). The latest forecast track has the hurricane making landfall later Wednesday morning. About 1 a.m. EDT Wednesday, Sally was centered about 65 miles (105 kilometers) southeast of Mobile, Alabama, and 60 miles (95 kilometers) southwest of Pensacola, Florida.

Waters from the Guld of Mexico poor onto a local road, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, in Waveland, Miss. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbrt)Here are the latest developments on tropical weather (all times local):___The Florida Panhandle is being pummeled by heavy rains from Hurricane Sally’s outer bands. The powerful, plodding storm was crawling toward the northern Gulf Coast at 3 mph (4.8 kph) early Tuesday. Florida’s governor declared an emergency in two western Panhandle counties. President Donald Trump issued an emergency declaration for Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

This satellite photo provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Tropical Storm Sally, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, at 2050 GMT. Sally churned northward on Sunday, poised to turn into a hurricane and send a life-threatening storm surge along the northern Gulf of Mexico. (NOAA via AP)Here are the latest developments on tropical weather (all times local):4 p.m.A rapidly intensifying Hurricane Sally is closing in on the northern Gulf Coast Sally after reaching Category 2 strength. The National Hurricane Center in Miami says Sally has grown into an extremely dangerous hurricane with top sustained winds of 100 mph (155 kph). The storm could drop as much as 2 feet (0.6 meters) of rain in spots and that could bring severe flooding, according to the center.

– Storm-weary Gulf Coast residents prepared for a new weather onslaught Monday as Tropical Storm Sally churned northward. He said a matching pelican marker on the opposite side of the driveway was washed away in Tropical Storm Cristobal earlier this summer. “That system is forecast to bring not only damaging winds but a dangerous storm surge,” said Daniel Brown of the Hurricane Center. Once a tropical storm, Rene was forecast to become a remnant low Monday. Tropical Depression Twenty was expected to strengthen this week and become a tropical storm by Tuesday, forecasters said.

– Tropical Storm Sally slowed down Sunday as it churned northward toward the U.S. Gulf Coast, increasing the risk of heavy rain and dangerous storm surge before an expected strike as a Category 2 hurricane in southern Louisiana. He said a matching pelican marker on the opposite side of the driveway was washed away in Tropical Storm Cristobal earlier this summer. Once a tropical storm, Rene was forecast to become a remnant low Monday. Tropical Depression Twenty was expected to strengthen this week and become a tropical storm by Tuesday, forecasters said. “It is likely that this storm system will be impacting Alabama’s Gulf Coast.

MIAMI – Tropical Storm Sally formed Saturday off south Florida amid forecasts it would grow into a hurricane capable of striking the U.S. Gulf Coast in coming days with high winds and a life-threatening storm surge. The earliest 18th-named storm in an Atlantic tropical season, Sally quickly became better organized within hours of forming and was expected to become a hurricane by late Monday, the National Hurricane Center said. Sally became the earliest 18th-named storm on record in an Atlantic hurricane season, besting Stan when it formed on Oct. 2, 2005, said Colorado State hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. A tropical storm watch has been extended westward from the Okaloosa/Walton County line in Florida to the Alabama-Florida line. Tropical Storm Rene weakened in recent hours and was reclassified as a tropical depression.

Some key takeaways of the immediate analysis of Laura's effects have emerged:IT WILL TAKE MONTHS TO KNOW EFFECTS:Scientists say some coastal impact from Hurricane Laura is inevitable. Bren Haase, who heads the states Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, said the eastern Cameron shoreline got pounded pretty hard." SALINITY'S A PROBLEMAnother question is how long storm surge waters sit before eventually draining away. Laura took a slight jog to the East just before making landfall which probably prevented some of the worst storm surge from pushing all the way into Lake Charles. This might be in part because the storm blew through so quickly and the storm surge was so high that it simply rode over the marshes, rather than tearing them up.

HOUSTON – Hurricane Laura pummeled the northwestern Gulf Coast as the Category 4 storm came ashore early Thursday morning. KPRC 2 had crews stations across the region to cover the landfall, and their cameras recorded some of the sounds of the storm. You can see reports from each of our crews here. Lake Charles, LouisianaPort Arthur, TexasLafayette, LouisianaBeaumont, Texas

AUSTIN, Texas A suspect has been arrested and charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a bystander during a fight on a downtown Austin street involving 60 Hurricane Laura evacuees from the Gulf Coast, Austin police said Friday. A police statement identified the suspect as Linton Wilson Alexander, 21, but gave no hometown. He was booked Thursday night into Travis County Jail without bond on a murder charge, jail records showed. Police say two groups of evacuees from Port Arthur and Beaumont brawled on a downtown Austin street about 12:30 a.m. Thursday. Greg Abbott credited the evacuation of vulnerable Southeast Texas areas for saving Texas lives.

RICHMOND, Texas – Fort Bend County Judge K.P. Officials in Fort Bend County are preparing for possible impacts from Hurricane Laura as the storm approaches the Gulf Coast. Hurricane Laura is forecast to make landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday near the Texas-Louisiana state line. Fort Bend County is under a tropical storm warning with winds of near 40 mph possible as Laura makes landfall. Fort Bend County judges talks Laura Fort Bend County Judge KP George is discussing preparations for Hurricane Laura.

GALVESTON, Texas Officials in Galveston County are continuing to monitor Hurricane Laura as it approaches the Gulf Coast. Galveston County Judge Mark Henry has scheduled a 1:30 p.m. news conference to discuss the storm and preparations for it. Henry issued a mandatory evacuation of Bolivar Peninsula on Tuesday and a voluntary evacuation of other parts of the county amid concerns about storm surge. The forecast track for Hurricane Laura has the storm making landfall very late Wednesday or very early Thursday near Sabine Pass. This story will be updated.

HOUSTON With much of the Gulf Coast bracing for Hurricane Lauras impact late Wednesday night, Tuesday was a day of last-minute preparations. If you want to brush up on getting ready for a hurricane, heres our helpful, downloadable hurricane resource guide so youre ready to go. KPRC 2 reporters covered some of the last-minute preparations that are underway Tuesday evening. Last-minute shoppingPower outage concernsEvacuation routesTraffic on evacuation routesCritical care patients