Don nears Texas coast, could deliver needed rain

Tropical Storm Don is expected to make landfall late FridayThe expected track of the storm is farther south than earlier predictedThe storm could bring up to seven inches of rain to some areas

(CNN) -- Tropical Storm Don was poised to make landfall late Friday on a popular stretch of beach in south Texas, but the promise of much-needed rain for much of the parched state dimmed as the storm aimed farther south than previously predicted.

The storm was forecast to make landfall on the Padre Island National Seashore, between Corpus Christi and Brownsville, between 9 p.m. and midnight, according to CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen. The seashore is not heavily populated.

Don, well shy of hurricane force-winds of 74 mph, is expected to weaken significantly after landfall, the Hurricane Center said. While heavy rain is predicted for coastal areas Friday night and Saturday, the National Weather Service predicts a 40% chance or less of scattered storms farther inland.

For example, the chance of rain was 20% in San Antonio, San Angelo and Abilene.

A narrow band west of the landfall could see between 5 inches and 7 inches of rain, but Friday's predicted track shows the storm mainly drenching mountains in a slice of southern Texas and northern Mexico, then quickly dissipating by Sunday.

At 4 p.m. CDT, Don had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and higher gusts as it spun toward the west-northwest at 16 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm was about 95 miles southeast of Corpus Christi and about 105 miles northeast of Brownsville.

Storm surge will increase water levels a foot or two over normal in the immediate landfall area, the Hurricane Center said.

A tropical storm warning remained in effect Friday afternoon from the mouth of the Rio Grande River to Matagorda, Texas.

With the winds expected at landfall to be in the 50 to 60 mph range, limited damage is forecast, according to Hennen.

David Villareal, who operates David's Fishing Lodge in Port Mansfield, said, "I don't see anyone panicking or boarding up."

Port Mansfield is a departure point for those hoping to catch speckled trout and redfish in Laguna Madre, the bay between the mainland and Padre Island.

Companies with personnel along the Texas coast took precautions as the storm neared.

ExxonMobil began evacuating nonessential personnel from offshore facilities in the path of the storm Thursday, spokesman Patrick McGinn said. Gross production of approximately 8,000 barrels per day of liquids and 50 million cubic feet per day of natural gas was shut down.

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a warning Thursday afternoon, urging people to plan and prepare ahead of the storm. The statement cautions residents to stay clear of beaches, to take action early -- including securing boating equipment and hazardous materials -- and to evacuate as necessary.

Any rain would be a welcome relief for many Texas farmers, who are suffering from the third worst drought in recorded history, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

But most farmers had adopted an "I'll believe it when I see it" attitude toward the speculation earlier this week that Don could bring rain to the state, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples said Thursday.

CNN's Chelsea Bailey and Molly Green contributed to this report.

Quoting : CNN.com

Heat settles over portions of East Coast

What makes this heat wave so hot?Weather service: Triple-digit temperatures to remain across the eastern U.S.Weather expected to cool off slightly beginning Sunday, forecasters sayAbout 100 concert-goers overcome by heat at Vans Warped TourOne says she got "overheated and I got really dizzy" Read more about the heat wave from CNN affiliates KYW, WKOW, WPXI, KSFY and KTTC.

(CNN) -- A heat wave blamed for as many as two dozen deaths settled over portions of the East Coast as the National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning for much of the Mid-Atlantic, saying Friday would be the hottest day in the region.

The highest heat index values -- how hot it feels -- could reach 115 degrees in some locations, the weather service said.

"These triple-digit temperatures are forecast to remain in place across the eastern U.S. through Saturday," it said.

How hot is it where you live? Share your photos, videos and stories

The weather was expected to cool off slightly to the mid-90s by Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

The warnings came as the heat wave broke 55 record highs and tied 60 more records in portions of the Midwest and the Ohio Valley, forecasters said.

Millions were also being warned to avoid strenuous activity and exercise outdoors after the National Weather Service issued a number of code red air quality alerts -- meaning air pollution levels are considered unhealthy for the general population -- in a handful of cities, including Baltimore and Washington D.C.

Beat-the-heat advice from a pro

The heat has affected many outdoor activities, prompting one Minneapolis movie theater marquee to read, "We have AC. Who cares what's playing," and one Canadian couple to forgo their original plans while visiting the Twin Cities.

Scott Hoffort and his wife, Colleen, of Saskatchewan, Canada, arrived in Minneapolis Sunday with their camping gear, planning for a vacation spent mostly outdoors at a campground. Instead they're now doing "more touristy" things.

"We went from camping in a tent to staying in hotels, so that we could get air conditioning," said Hoffort said. "We spent a fair amount of time in the Mall of America yesterday because of the heat."

Heat hurts your insides too

About 100 people, primarily teenagers, were overcome Thursday by the heat at the Vans Warped Tour in Camden, New Jersey, where more than 12,000 people gathered at the outdoor concert, authorities said.

"I just, I guess got overheated and I got really dizzy," 17-year-old Maureen Meckly, who attended the concert, told CNN affiliate KYW. "I had to grab onto her (friends') shoulder to tell her I was passing out."

In Wildwood, New Jersey, tourists and residents beat the heat by heading to the ocean.

What a heatstroke feels like

But for some working hot food concession stands at Morey's Piers in Wildwood there was little relief.

"Sometimes it's so hot, I can't even breathe," Erik Perez, who works at Curley's Fries, told KYW.

In Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Cory Booker announced that facilities were available in every ward to help keep citizens cool.

"It is imperative that our residents drink plenty of fluids, stay indoors in a cool climate, and avoid strenuous activity," Booker said in a statement. "I urge our senior citizens and Newark residents who lack air conditioning to come to one of our cooling centers."

In New York, Con Edison called on customers to stay cool and not waste energy.

"Store owners who leave doors open with the A/C running could be subject to fines from the city," ConEd said.

The first confirmed heat-related death in Kansas City was declared Thursday, but it stemmed from a death last month. A 57-year-old man was found dead in his home on June 5, according to Dan Ferguson, who works for Jackson County.

In addition to the man's death, there are 13 other possible heat-related deaths in Missouri -- the youngest was a woman in her mid-30s, and the oldest were two women in their mid-70s, said Jeff Hershberger, spokesman for the Kansas City Health Department.

It may take six weeks to several months for officials to process toxicology tests to determine whether all 13 died of heat-related causes, Hershberger said.

In Wisconsin, a 65-year-old man from Fountain Prairie was confirmed by health officials to have died from heat-related causes Thursday, according to CNN affiliate WKOW. Columbia County Medical Examiner Angela Hinze said the man had underlying medical conditions that were made worse when he was helping a family member outside with housework.

In Oklahoma, four heat-related deaths have been confirmed since May, said Cherokee Ballard, a spokeswoman for the state medical examiner. Three of those occurred in the past 30 days, including a 3-year-old boy in a car in Norman and a 69-year-old man from Blackwell, she said.

An additional eight Oklahoma deaths may be related to the heat, she said, with most occurring in July.

CNN affiliate WPXI reported Thursday that a child accidentally locked in a hot car was rescued in Spring Hill, Pennsylvania. The girl's mother locked her keys in the car and immediately called for help, the report said. The girl was not hurt.

The high heat is also taking its toll on animals.

In South Dakota, 1,500 head of livestock have been lost to the heat, Larry Olsen of the Farm Service Agency told CNN affiliate KSFY.

Dozens of cattle died south of Harmony, Minnesota, CNN affiliate KTTC reported. And on a cattle farm just across the border in northern Iowa, an estimated 100 cattle died, the report said.

At the Brookfield Zoo just outside Chicago, staff kept water misters in exhibits and gave some animals huge blocks of ice filled with meat and fruit.

CNN's Chris Welch, Sean Morris, Jacqui Jeras, Dave Alsup, Phil Gast, Chelsea J. Carter and Marlena Baldacci contributed to this report.

Quoting : CNN.com