Alex becomes a hurricane

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The National Hurricane Center has officially classified Tropical Storm Alex as a hurricane. Alex is now producing 75 mph winds—a Category 1 hurricane. The storm is 255 miles southeast of Brownsville, moving west at 9 mph.

As Hurricane Alex swirls toward the Gulf coast of northern Mexico and southern Texas, authorities are readying emergency shelters and distributing sandbags.

Forecasters said the storm's likely path would take it away from the site of the huge Gulf of Mexico oil spill off Louisiana's coast. Still, they added it might push oil farther inland and disrupt cleanup efforts.

Stay tuned to the developing details with the KXAN Austin News First Warning Weather Team at KXAN.com.