Harvey strengthens into hurricane as it approaches Texas

Tropical Storm Harvey was upgraded to a hurricane Thursday as it approaches Texas with 80 mph winds. The National Hurricane Center said the storm could become a Category 3 hurricane with eventual wind speeds of 111 mph, CNN reports.

Hurricane Harvey is expected to hit the Texas mainland late Friday or early Saturday, and then slow over the state. Storm surges and heavy rains along the Texas coast are anticipated, and Louisiana also will see heavy rains. New Orleans expects 5 to 10 inches by Tuesday, and authorities are bracing for possible flooding.

It has been nine years since the last hurricane made landfall in Texas, when Hurricane Ike killed 21 people.

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