HOUSTON – Tropical storm conditions were expected to begin Monday morning in parts of Texas and Louisiana as Tropical Storm Beta slowly worked its way into a part of the country that's already been drenched and battered during this year's exceptionally busy hurricane season.No longer expected to gain hurricane strength, forecasters also decreased expected rainfall totals from Beta early Monday, saying in a U.S.
National Hurricane Center advisory that up to 15 inches (38 centimeters) of rain could fall in some areas. That's down from earlier predictions of up to 20 inches (51 centimeters).Beta increased speed Sunday afternoon and was set to make landfall along Texas' central or upper Gulf Coast late Monday night, forecasters said.