The National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane watch for parts of the Texas and Louisiana coasts as Tropical Storm Edouard strengthens in the Gulf of America and tracks directly toward one of America's most critical refining and LNG corridors.

Edouard was approximately 90 miles southeast of Port Arthur, Texas, early Tuesday, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, according to the latest NHC update. The storm is expected to make landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border later Tuesday and could approach hurricane strength before reaching the coast.

"Tropical Storm Edouard Advisory 4A (7 AM CDT, Tue Sep 1): Air Force Hurricane Hunters Investigating Edouard. Significant Strengthening is Forecast Before Edouard Reaches the Northwestern Gulf Coast Later Today," the NHC wrote on X.

Edouard's cone of uncertainty extends over Port Arthur, a major center for US oil refining, natural gas processing and energy exports. The region is home to Motiva Enterprises' Port Arthur complex, the largest refinery in the US, as well as facilities operated by Valero Energy, TotalEnergies and BASF.

Edouard is the fifth named storm of the Atlantic season following an unusually quiet opening linked to El Niño conditions in the Pacific, which have increased wind shear across the Atlantic Basin and disrupted tropical development.

The threat Edouard poses to the heart of the US Gulf Coast refining and LNG complex is particularly troubling given the worldwide refining crisis, with US diesel crack spreads topping $103 per barrel.