MIAMI: Hurricane warnings were issued in Texas and the northeastern Mexico as forecasters predicted that Tropical Storm Alex churning in the Gulf of Mexico would reach hurricane force on Tuesday.

At 0300 GMT the center of Alex was located some 505 miles (810 kilometers) southeast of Brownsville, Texas, at the point the Rio Grande -- which forms the border between the United States and Mexico -- reaches the ocean, the National Hurricane Center said.

The storm appeared to be well southwest of the area hardest hit by the massive Gulf oil spill -- the US coasts of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana -- though its strong winds could cause problems for the cleanup effort.

Alex had maximum sustained winds of 65 miles (100 kilometers) per hour, and was moving towards the northwest at five miles (seven kilometers) per hour, the Miami, Florida-based Hurricane Center said.

US authorities issued a hurricane warning for the coast of Texas south of Baffin Bay to the mouth of the Rio Grande, while Mexican officials issued a hurricane warning from the Rio Grande to La Cruz.

The storm appeared to be well southwest of the area hardest hit by the massive Gulf oil spill -- the US coasts of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

"A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area," the NHC said, noting that they are usually posted 36 hours before the first tropical storm force winds arrive.

Alex was expected to continue gathering force as it moves over the warm Gulf waters on its forward track.

"Additional strengthening is forecast, and Alex is likely to become a hurricane on Tuesday," the NHC bulletin said.

The NHC said the storm could bring "total rainfall accumulations of five to 10 inches (13-25 centimeters) over portions of northeastern Mexico and southern Texas over the next few days."

"Additional rainfall accumulations of three to six inches (7.6-15 centimeters) over southern Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula" were expected through Tuesday, with isolated maximums of 10 inches (25 centimeters) possible over mountainous areas.

"These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides," the NHC warned.

An estimated 1.6 million to 3.6 million barrels of oil -- or 67 million to 153 million gallons -- have poured into the Gulf since the BP-leased Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on April 20, killing 11 workers.

While Alex appeared set to sidestep the massive slick, its strong winds still threatened seas too rough to try to attach a third containment vessel to a riser pipe suctioning oil from a containment cap some 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) below the surface.

According to the NHC, tropical storm force winds currently "extend outward up to 70 miles (110 kilometers)" from the center of Alex.

BDST : 1111 HRS, 29 June, 2010
SIS