category one hurricane by the time it arrives. dangerous wind and flooding downpours are expected as tropical storm karen moves to the shore. >> let's get the latest from jim dickey at accu-weather. >> reporter: good morning, here's karen sitting right in the middle of the gulf of mexico here drifting slowly to the north and northwest. we are expecting the storm to make a turn to the north and east. generally stay around the intensity it is now. likely staying a tropical storm. it could potentially reach minimum hurricane force but likely then reaching tropical storm force again. as it makes landfall you will deal with sheer and dry air. that will keep it fairly weak but some soaking rainfall to the gulf coast and the northeast through the weekend. john and diana, back to you. >> all right. jim dickey, thank you for that. while the gulf prepares for that tropical storm, it's winter in the rockies. heavy snow fell there and will fall and move to the upper midwest and santa ana winds will blow across southern california. showers and thunderstorms along the gulf ahead of karen's arrival. pleasant and warm in the mid-atlantic and northeast states.