Current guidance is only calling for the gulf system to reach Tropical Storm, but with the gulf at this time of year you can never rule out an unexpected rapid intensification, as has been seen numerous times with previous systems.

The biggest threat by far from that storm is going to be rain, with most models clustering from 2 to 4 days of heavy rain along the gulf coast. A few outliers are showing upwards of a week or more of heavy rain.

All models are fairly well in agreement that there is very little in the way of steering current, which will allow the storm to basically meander around a bit before finally moving north.

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As for Katia, anyone watching IR? It's growing. More than doubled the size of the CDO since yesterday, and most of that has been within the last 2-3 hours. There is also some very deep convection in the CDO.