Tropical Storm Gordon made landfall overnight along the border between the southern U.S. states of Alabama and Mississippi, bringing strong winds and bands of heavy rain to the Gulf Coast.
Forecasters had expected the storm to reach hurricane strength by the time it reached land late Tuesday, but the maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour were just below that level.
Gordon will quickly lose strength during the day Wednesday as it moves further inland, but it does still carry the threat of widespread heavy rains and windy conditions.
Tens of thousands of people lost power because of the storm. The governors of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana all declared states of emergency in order to speed relief efforts. U.S. President Donald Trump also said the White House is standing by to help with storm recovery.
The National Hurricane Center said the storm could bring a total of 10 to 20 centimeters (4 to 8 inches) of rain to the region by the time it exits later this week
