Miami - Tropical Storm Don is over the central Gulf of Mexico but the system is not expected to become a hurricane as it moves toward southeastern Texas.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami says Don's maximum sustained winds Thursday were 45 mph (75 kph) with gradual strengthening forecast in the next 36 hours.

The storm is expected to make landfall on the Texas coast late Friday or Saturday.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for the coast from Port Mansfield to San Luis Pass.

The storm is centered about 425 miles (684 kilometers) east-southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas, and is moving northwest at 16 mph (26 kph).

Source: The Associated Press