Southbound rain surge looms as tropical disturbance nears storm threshold

A waterlogged tropical disturbance near Texas has a 60% chance of developing into a tropical storm and could dump heavy rain from eastern Texas to the Carolinas. Flood watches are in effect from Texas to Mississippi as severe thunderstorms move along the Gulf Coast; forecasters warn copious moisture could drench a wide area from Houston to Atlanta and into Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama with significant impacts possible depending on storm development.