The storm "has been moving toward the north-northwest near 12 mileskilometers) per hour ... and is entering the Gulf of Mexico," the hurricane center said in an advisory.

A tropical storm warning remained in effect for most of the Yucatan Peninsula as of 1200 GMT but was expected to be lowered later Friday morning.

The center of the storm was located just north of Cancun, Mexico, and the storm was packing maximum sustained winds of about 55 miles (90 kilometers) per hour. The storm's intensity was expected to hold steady over the next 24 hours, the hurricane center said.

Late Thursday, US meteorologists predicted that Claudette would head for Texas after buffeting the peninsula and crossing the Gulf of Mexico, with landfall expected early next week.

Mexican officials declared a state of emergency for the area in the storm's path, and forecasters with Mexico's National Meteorological Service had predicted that Claudette would have progressed into a Category One hurricane by early Friday.

The Atlantic hurricane season stretches from June to November. Experts have predicted more storms than usual this year.

TERRA.WIRE