AT 5:00AM EDT, THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM KATIA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 22.1° NORTH AND LONGITUDE 96.3° WEST OR ABOUT 105 MILES EAST OF TAMPICO MEXICO.
TROPICAL STORM KATIA IS MOVING TOWARD THE EAST-SOUTHEAST AT 2 MPH, AND THE SYSTEM SHOULD GRADUALLY TURN SOUTHEASTWARD DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS AND CONTINUE MOVING IN THIS GENERAL DIRECTION THROUGH THURSDAY. A TURN TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST IS FORECAST ON FRIDAY. ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE CENTER OF KATIA IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN OFFSHORE OF MEXICO THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 40 MILES PER HOUR (MPH) WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.
