Hurricane Katia stationary in the Gulf of Mexico, expected to strengthen

Hurricane Katia stationary in the Gulf of Mexico, expected to strengthen

Hurricane Katia is in the southern Gulf of Mexico. Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center expect the Category 1 storm to strengthen to almost a Category 3 storm before making landfall in Mexico. (Image via NOAA)
Hurricane Katia is in the southern Gulf of Mexico. Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center expect the Category 1 storm to strengthen to almost a Category 3 storm before making landfall in Mexico. (Image via NOAA)

Hurricane Katia is stationary in the southern Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center said Thursday morning (Sept. 7). Forecasters expect the storm to make landfall this weekend in Mexico.

As of 7 a.m., Hurricane Katia was 210 miles east of Tampico, Mexico, and 195 miles northeast of Veracruz, Mexico. Forecasters say the Category 1 storm is stationary but is expected to turn southwest on Friday and approach Mexico’s coast by early Saturday. (latest track)

Tropical Storm Katia: 5-day tracking map

Tropical Storm Katia: 5-day tracking map

Here’s the most recent map of storm’s projected path.

Katia has maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, and forecasters say it is likely to strengthen. The storm could be near a Category 3 hurricane at landfall.

The storm is a “small tropical cyclone,” the National Hurricane Center said, with hurricane-force-winds extending out only 10 miles from the center. Tropical-storm-force winds extend out 70 miles.

Hurricane Katia is expected to make landfall in Mexico. Here's the five-day track as of 7 a.m. Thursday. (Image via National Hurricane Center)
Hurricane Katia is expected to make landfall in Mexico. Here’s the five-day track as of 7 a.m. Thursday. (Image via National Hurricane Center) (Carlie Kollath Wells)

Other things to know:

— Rain: Katia is expected to drop 5 to 10 inches over northern Veracruz, and 2 to 5 inches over far southern Tamaulipas, northeast Puebla and southern Veracruz through Saturday morning. Isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches are possible in northern Veracruz. This rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides, especially in the mountains.

— Storm surge: A dangerous storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 5 to 7 feet above normal tide levels near and to the north of where Katia makes landfall. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.