Katia downgraded but expected to strengthen again

Update: 11 a.m., Sept. 2, 2011 - Katia has been upgraded to hurricane strength again with sustained winds of 75 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

10 a.m., Sept. 2, 2011 - The National Hurricane Center, part of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Center, reports that Katia has been downgraded from a category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm with wind speeds down to 70 mph.

However the storm is expected to regroup over the weekend and attain hurricane status again. It could strengthen to major hurricane status (category 3 or higher with winds of at least 111 mph) by early next week.

Katia is expected to begin a more northward turn this afternoon, which will affect the storm's course. While it remains too early to tell if Katia will impact the United States, most forecast models predict Katia will head more northerly between the U.S. mainland and Bermuda.

Katia's forward motion has been slowing over the past couple of days from 20 mph on a west-northwest track to now 15 mph in the same direction. The NHC reports the storm's movement will continue to slow down over the next couple of days. 

Additionally, the NHC models all predict weather patterns building in the western Atlantic Ocean to produce a ridge that will force Katia on a more westerly track

In the Gulf of Mexico, the tropical wave the NHC has been tracking has now become Tropical Depression 13. It is moving slowly to the northeast toward the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect from Pascagoula, Miss. to Sabine Pass, Texas, with 10-15 inches of rain expected throughout much of the region with some localized totals possibly reaching 20 inches. Storm surges of 2-4 feet are expected.

With sustained winds near 35 mph the NHC predicts the depression could become a tropical storm by later today.

Check out The Weather Channel for up to date satellite images.