Tropical storm warning posted for coastal region

The National Weather Service has issued a tropical storm warning for the Gulf Coast stretching across Louisiana and Mississippi Tropical Storm Katia heads toward the coastline.

Another warning took effect around 7 p.m. Thursday for a tropical depression in the north-central Gulf of Mexico. The proxmity of the storm -- which will be named 'Lee' -- has prompted a tropical storm warning from Pascagoula, Miss., to Sabine Pass, Texas.

The storm will bring a relief from record temperatures and near-drought condition as forecasters predict a gusher of rain for the Gulf South region.

The National Weather Service expects as 10 inches of rain from Katina across Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama over the Labor Day weekend.

The storm is moving at only 2 mph, which means it could significantly intensify before making landfall along the Gulf Coast.

As for now, forecasters call for an 80 percent chance of rain today and Saturday, and a 100 percent chance on Sunday as Katina nears landfall.

Daytime highs will reach only the lower 80s. Winds today will blow from the East at 17 mph, increasing to 22 mph on Saturday.

Winds will shift to the East-Southeast at 28 mph by Sunday.

Rain probabliities will be 80 percent Monday and Tuesday as a cool front slides through the area.

Daytime highs Monday will reach 80, but will only reach the mid 70s Tuesday, with lows in the mid 60s.

EXTENDED OUTLOOK ...

Clears skies are expected to return to the area by the middle of next week, with highs in the mid-to-upper 80 and overnight lows in the mid-to-upper 60s.