Tropical Storm Bill develops in Gulf of Mexico; moving north

MIAMI -- The second named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season formed Sunday in the Gulf of Mexico, and storm watches were issued for parts of the Texas and Louisiana coasts.

Tropical Storm Bill had sustained wind of 40 mph and was centered about 460 miles south-southeast of Port Arthur, Texas, on Sunday afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Some strengthening was expected but the storm was not forecast to become a hurricane before it reaches land, possibly as early as today, hurricane specialist Miles Lawrence said.

At 1 p.m., the storm was moving toward the northwest at about 12 mph. It was expected to turn toward the north-northwest and slow down, forecasters said.

Tropical storm watches were posted from San Luis Pass, Texas, to Morgan City, La. A watch means tropical storm conditions are possible, generally within 36 hours.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for southeastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi, where the ground was already soggy from more than a week of rain.

The season's first tropical storm, Ana, formed in the open Atlantic in April and was a threat only to shipping. Systems become tropical storms when their sustained wind exceeds 39 mph.

The Atlantic hurricane season started June 1 and runs through Nov. 30.

Bill formed just after the 46th anniversary of Hurricane Audrey, one of the most destructive June hurricanes to hit the United States. It struck the Louisiana-Texas coast on June 27, 1957, with a 13.9-foot storm tide and wind gusting to 180 mph. It killed at least 390 people and estimates run to more than 500.