Tropical Storm Lili Is Expected This Week

Tropical Storm Lili churned toward the Gulf of Mexico and could strike the Gulf Coast by the end of the week, forecasters said. It was too early to predict where Lili would come ashore, but coastal residents from Texas to Florida should be on the alert for a direct hit as early as Friday, said Stacy Stewart of the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Lili could start affecting the Florida Keys by today or Tuesday, with minor rainfall and wind gusts under tropical storm strength.

Sunday evening, Lili was about 15 miles east-northeast of Montego Bay, Jamaica, and had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph, below the 74 mph minimum for a hurricane. The storm has caused extensive flooding in Jamaica and Haiti.