The center of a tropical disturbance that flared up in the Gulf began to move across land on Friday, bringing heavy rainfall to parts of northeastern Mexico and South Texas.

Louisiana and other northern portions of the Gulf Coast aren't expected to see any effects from the system or any other tropical activity for the next few days.

A tropical disturbance, called Invest 98L, in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to bring downpours and a renewed risk of flooding through Friday.

Tropical Storm Erin is expected to become a hurricane later today, Aug. 15, and a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph over the weekend. A major hurricane is a Category 3 or stronger, with maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph.

The weather system, designated AL98, is forecast to move west-northwestward across the southwestern Gulf of Mexico during the next day.

As the Gulf disturbance nears Texas, tropical moisture will surge Friday and Saturday in the Houston metro area, leading to increasing storm chances.

The odds of a short-lived tropical depression or storm forming in the southwestern Gulf are lessening, but pockets of heavy rain could still trigger flash flooding.