AUSTIN, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott says Texas is preparing for a possible tropical storm system headed toward the Gulf of Mexico.

The tropical system is one of several that have formed in the Atlantic Ocean, including powerful Hurricane Florence heading toward the East Coast.

The National Hurricane Center says the storm system nearing the Gulf could become a tropical depression later this week and affect parts of Texas, Louisiana and northeastern Mexico.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated system, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for the Houston area and parts of Southeast Texas until Tuesday night amid rain and scattered street flooding.