<article><p class="lead">A storm system in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico may develop into a hurricane in the coming days as it heads toward the key refining and crude export hub of Corpus Chirsti, Texas.</p><p>Tropical storm Nicholas was located about 260 miles (420km) southeast of the mouth of the Rio Grande river that forms the US/Mexico border at about 8pm ET today, heading north at about 2 mph, with a possible landfall sometime late on 13 September near Corpus Christi.</p><p>The US Coast Guard set the Port of Corpus Christi to condition X-Ray at 6:45pm ET today, which means gale force winds were expected to arrive within 48 hours. All commercial traffic and transfer operations can continue during X-Ray, but the Coast Guard said ocean-going commercial vessels and ocean-going barges greater than 500 gross tons should make plans to depart the port.</p><p>Corpus Christi is a key US crude export port and home to several major facilities, including Citgo's 157,500 b/d refinery, Valero's 200,000 b/d refinery and Flint Hills Resources 260,000 b/d refinery.</p><p>As Nicholas continues north and moves inland, forecasters predict heavy rains for other Texas cities, including Freeport, Houston and Galveston. A hurricane watch has been issued for the Texas coast from Port Aransas to Sargent, 20 miles south of Freeport.</p><p class="bylines">By Tom Fowler</p></article>
