"Claudette could become a hurricane (late Monday) or Tuesday," the center said in a statement.

At 2100 GMT, the center issued a hurricane warning along the Texas coast from Brownsville to High Island.

A tropical storm warning was extended from High Island and along the Louisiana coast Intercoastal City.

"Claudette" could reach hurricane strength late Monday or Tuesday, according to the Miami-based center.

"Maximum sustained winds are near 104 kilometers (65 miles) per hour ... with higher gusts.

"Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours."

At 2100 GMT, Claudette was centered about 362 kilometers (225 miles) east of Corpus Christi, Texas and 257 kilometers (160 miles) southeast of Galveston, Texas.

"Several oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico have reported hurricane-force winds a few hundred feet above the surface during the past few hours," the center said.

A hurricane alert for the northeast coast of Mexico has been lifted, the center said.

A storm must generate winds of at least 119 kilometers an hour (74 miles an hour) to qualify as a hurricane.

TERRA.WIRE