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Hurricane watches have been issued along the Mexico and south Texas coastlines as Tropical Storm Hermine gains strength in the Gulf, with maximum sustained winds are nearly 50 mph.

A hurricane watch is in effect from Rio San Fernando, Mexico northward to Baffin Bay, Texas.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for La Cruz, Mexico northward to Port O'Connor, Texas.

Late Monday morning the storm was centered about 130 miles east-southeast of La Pesca, Mexico, and about 205 miles south-southeast of Brownsville, Texas, and is moving at about 13 mph.

Tropical storm conditions are expected to reach affected areas later today.

CBS News 2010 Storm Tracker

Hermine's maximum sustained winds have increased to 50 mph with some additional strengthening expected before the storm makes landfall.

Heavy rain is predicted with northeastern Mexico into south Texas getting 4 to 8 inches with as much as a foot in some places. It could cause flash floods and mudslides.

Storm surges of as much as 2 to 4 feet are expected along the immediate coast and to the north or where the center makes landfall.