Tropical Storm Edouard strengthens as it bears down on Texas and Louisiana

First big storm of season could reach hurricane force and is expected to bring potentially heavy rains and flooding

Tropical Storm Edouard headed toward the US Gulf coast early on Tuesday and was expected to strengthen significantly – possibly reaching hurricane force – before bringing potentially heavy rains and flooding into parts of Texas and Louisiana.

The storm was upgraded on Monday night from a tropical depression, and forecasters with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) expect it will make landfall in Texas later on Tuesday.