Computer-enhanced satellite image of Tropical Storm Humberto as it moved toward the Gulf Coast. (NOAA)
Tropical Storm Humberto formed Wednesday in the Gulf of Mexico, and officials issued warnings for parts of the Texas and Louisiana coasts where heavy rain could cause flooding.
Rain was already falling along the Gulf Coast at 2 p.m. EDT, with Humberto's center still about 70 miles south-southwest of Galveston, Texas, the National Hurricane Center said.
The eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and was expected to move ashore later Wednesday. Forecasters warned of storm surge flooding of 2 feet to 3 feet near where the storm's center makes landfall.
About 5 to 10 inches of rain was expected along the middle and upper Texas coast and in southwestern Louisiana, with some areas getting as much as 15 inches, senior hurricane specialist Jack Beven said.
Humberto formed from a depression that developed Wednesday morning. A depression becomes a named tropical storm when its sustained winds reach 39 mph, and a hurricane when those winds reach 74 mph.
Another tropical depression also formed Wednesday far in the open Atlantic, about 1,130 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. It had maximum sustained winds near 35 mph and was moving west-northwest at about 12 mph. Forecasters said it could become a tropical storm later Wednesday.
AVN satellite image of tropical storm Humberto at 19:15 UTC on Wednesday, September 12, 2007. 
The eighth named storm of the , tropical storm Humberto, was named today over the Gulf of Mexico.

The  was about 70 miles south-southwest of , Texas at 2 p.m. EST and was moving towards the north at 6 mph.

Maximum sustained winds associated with the storm stood at 45 mph.

But, forecasters warn that additional strengthening is possible before the storm makes landfall.

While heavy rain is already pounding the Gulf Coast, Humberto's center is not expected to reach the coast of Texas until late tonight.

The  issued a  from , Texas, to , Louisiana.

Anywhere from 5 to 10 inches of rain is expected along the upper and middle coast of Texas, as well as in southwestern Louisiana. Some areas to be impacted by the storm may see rain totals near 15 inches, according to the NHC.

Also, the NHC warned storm surge flooding of 2 to 3 feet is possible.