Tropical Storm Karen forms off Gulf Coast

WASHINGTON — Tropical Storm Karen has formed in the Yucatan Channel, and will possibly pose a threat to the U.S. as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico, according to the Weather Channel.

Hurricane watches are now in effect from Grand Isle, LA, to Indian Pass, FL, but do not include metropolitan New Orleans, the article stated.

According to the article, data from an Air Force mission on Thursday morning indicated surface winds of 50 to 60 mph were measured in a portion of Karen's circulation, indicating that a fairly healthy tropical storm has already formed, making Karen the season's 12^th tropical cyclone and 11^th named storm.

As Karen moves northwest and north toward the central Gulf Coast, "significant uncertainty remains about how strong it will become and how strong it can remain," the article noted.

Click here to read the article in its entirety.