Tropical depression moving toward eastern Mexico

MIAMI (AP) — A tropical depression in the Gulf is moving toward eastern Mexico, where it’s likely to bring heavy rains and flooding.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says the storm’s maximum sustained winds early Monday are near 35 mph (55 kph). Additional strengthening is forecast and the depression could become a tropical storm before making landfall in Mexico later in the day.

A tropical storm warning is in effect from Laguna Verde to Rio Panuco.

The depression is centered about 70 miles (115 kilometers) north-northeast of Veracruz, Mexico, and is moving west near 7 mph (11 kph).

The depression is expected to produce rainfall totals of 6 to 10 inches with isolated areas possibly getting as much as 15 inches in higher terrain over several Mexican states.