Tropical Storm Karen Expected to Strengthen as Gulf Coast Prepares for Landfall
Tropical Storm Karen churned in the Gulf Friday as the stretch of coast from Louisiana to the Panhandle braced for landfall over the weekend.
South Florida has already felt some of the storm’s effects as businesses pumped water from flooded parking lots and entrances, and part of Miami-Dade County remained under a flood advisory for most of Thursday.
On Friday morning, Karen’s center of circulation was about 295 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River, and the storm is moving north-northwest at 10 mph. Karen weakened overnight, with winds of 60 mph, but is expected to intensify Saturday, according to the National Hurricane Center. It is expected to become a Category 1 hurricane on Friday.
State and federal government agencies are preparing.