MIAMI (AFP) - Weather monitors warned on Wednesday (June 21) of tornados and potentially deadly flash floods as Tropical Storm Cindy in the Gulf of Mexico headed towards the coasts of Louisiana and Texas.

At 0600 GMT (2pm Singapore time), Cindy was located about 325 kilometres south of Morgan City, Louisiana, and 435 kilometres south-east of Galveston, Texas, the National Hurricane Centre reported.

The storm packed winds of 95 kilometres per hour, and was moving towards the north-west at 11 kilometres per hour.

Cindy is forecast to hit the coast of south-west Louisiana and south-east Texas late on Wednesday (June 21), and move inland on Thursday (June 22).

It is expected to bring between 15.24cm and 22.86cm of rain, "with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches (30.48cm)" in some areas.

"This rainfall could cause life-threatening flash flooding," the NHC warned.

Cindy is not expected to reach hurricane status, but is nevertheless large: tropical storm force winds "extend outward up to 275 miles, mainly north through north-east of the centre", the NHC said.

The weather service also warned of possible isolated tornadoes on Wednesday from southern Louisiana to northern Florida.

The NHC issued a tropical storm warning for the coastal region between the central coast of Texas to the western Florida panhandle.