Storm heads toward Texas export, refining hub

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

By Tom Fowler