Tropical Storm Cindy is churning toward Texas and Louisiana tonight.
The storm is now less than 115 miles southeast of Galveston and about 120 miles due south of Lake Charles, Louisiana. It's moving northwest at 8 mph, according the National Hurricane Center.
Nightfall is approaching along coastal Bolivar Peninsula, where some are staying in place to ride out the storm rather than observe a voluntary call for evacuation.
A tropical storm warning remains in effect from San Luis Pass eastward to the mouth of the Mississippi River.
Landfall is expected to be at or near the Texas-Louisiana border -- sometime late tonight or early Thursday.
Cindy has maximum sustained winds at 50 mph, with higher gusts. Little change in Cindy's strength is expected before landfall -- with rapid weakening afterward.
"A turn toward the north-northwest is expected tonight and Thursday, with a turn toward the northeast expected on Friday," according to the latest NHC advisory. "On the forecast track, the center of Cindy will move inland over southeastern Texas or southwestern Louisiana early Thursday, then move near or over extreme eastern Texas, western and northern Louisiana, and southeastern Arkansas Thursday and Thursday night."
NHC forecasters also note:
--Tropical-storm-force winds extend up to 115 miles from the center.
--Rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 7 inches can be expected farther west across western Louisiana and eastern Texas through Thursday night.
--The storm is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 6 to 9 inches with isolated maximum amounts up to 15 inches over southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southern Alabama, and western portions of the Florida Panhandle through Thursday night.
--"A few tornadoes" are possible from southern Louisiana eastward, but not expected in Texas.