Hurricane Harvey Update
Impacts on central/south central Texas
I’m really concerned about 3 things for central/south
central Texas (Austin/San Antonio Metro Areas)
- Dangerous/potentially deadly historical rainfall accumulation/flash flooding
- Strong, gusty winds that will likely bring power outages
- A few tropical tornadoes possible
As of 1:00 PM CDT Friday afternoon, the eye of category 2
Hurricane Harvey is currently located 65 miles southeast of Corpus Christi, TX
and moving northwest at 10 mph…maximum sustained winds as of the 1 PM CDT
update from the National Hurricane Center were sustained at 110 mph gusting to
130 mph.
Per the 1 PM CDT Update from the National Hurricane
Center, Harvey is still expected to make landfall as a major category three
hurricane with winds sustained at 120 mph gusting to 150 mph late tonight into
early Saturday morning most likely somewhere in between Corpus Christi and Port
O’Connor. Instead of moving through quickly, Harvey is going to move slightly
inland or hug the coast through the weekend. This will only work to exacerbate
flooding and storm surge concerns for coastal areas and inland areas well away
from Harvey’s center. Hurricane Force Winds (74 mph +) currently extend outward
up to 35 miles from Harvey’s center, and tropical storm force winds (39-73 mph)
extend outward up to 140 miles per hour.
Latest Visible Satellite Image of Harvey (NASA GOES-16)
Latest Doppler Radar Imagery
Counties shaded in pink along the coast are under a TORNADO WATCH until 2 AM CDT Saturday Morning
Latest Forecast Track from the National Hurricane Center
Projected Rainfall Accumulation from Harvey through Tuesday
Local Statement on Hurricane Harvey from the
NWS Austin/San Antonio Forecast Office as of 1:31 PM CDT
Current Watches and/or Warnings
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Atascosa,
Bastrop, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, Fayette, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hays, Lavaca,
and Wilson counties until further notice.
Harvey is still moving slowly northwestward in the Gulf
of Mexico,
currently as a strong category 2 hurricane, and continuing to
strengthen as it approaches the Texas coastline. This northwestward
movement is expected to continue and Harvey should make landfall
Saturday morning. Confidence remains high in a major rainfall event
taking place across much of South Central Texas, in addition to some
locations closer to the coast experiencing hurricane force and tropical
storm force winds.
At this stage, a life-threatening and catastrophic heavy rainfall
event appears imminent for much of South Central Texas east of
Interstate 35 and Interstate 37. This could lead to significant flash
flooding across these areas. Average storm total rainfall amounts of
10 to 20 inches are expected east of Interstate 35 and Interstate
37 today through Tuesday. Isolated higher amounts in excess of
25 inches are possible near and south of the Interstate 10 corridor.
For the Interstate 35 corridor and the eastern Hill Country, including
the cities of San Antonio and Austin 6 to 12 inches are forecast with
isolated higher amounts.
Harvey is expected to stall or move very slowly over the area. With
these forecasted rainfall amounts catastrophic river flooding is also
very likely east of Interstate 35 and south of Interstate 10 in the
Colorado, Guadalupe, and San Antonio river basins.
Additionally, hurricane force winds of 70 to 80 mph will be possible
for the counties within the Hurricane Warning. 40 to 50 mph winds with
some gusts to 60 mph, in the tropical rain bands, will be possible for
areas within the Tropical Storm Warning including San Antonio and San
Marcos. The Austin area could see winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts to
40mph within rain bands. The timing of these winds look to arrive
Friday night through Saturday morning. There is a low risk of brief
tornadoes east of Interstate 35 and south of Interstate 10 Friday
evening into the weekend associated with tropical rain bands.
currently as a strong category 2 hurricane, and continuing to
strengthen as it approaches the Texas coastline. This northwestward
movement is expected to continue and Harvey should make landfall
Saturday morning. Confidence remains high in a major rainfall event
taking place across much of South Central Texas, in addition to some
locations closer to the coast experiencing hurricane force and tropical
storm force winds.
At this stage, a life-threatening and catastrophic heavy rainfall
event appears imminent for much of South Central Texas east of
Interstate 35 and Interstate 37. This could lead to significant flash
flooding across these areas. Average storm total rainfall amounts of
10 to 20 inches are expected east of Interstate 35 and Interstate
37 today through Tuesday. Isolated higher amounts in excess of
25 inches are possible near and south of the Interstate 10 corridor.
For the Interstate 35 corridor and the eastern Hill Country, including
the cities of San Antonio and Austin 6 to 12 inches are forecast with
isolated higher amounts.
Harvey is expected to stall or move very slowly over the area. With
these forecasted rainfall amounts catastrophic river flooding is also
very likely east of Interstate 35 and south of Interstate 10 in the
Colorado, Guadalupe, and San Antonio river basins.
Additionally, hurricane force winds of 70 to 80 mph will be possible
for the counties within the Hurricane Warning. 40 to 50 mph winds with
some gusts to 60 mph, in the tropical rain bands, will be possible for
areas within the Tropical Storm Warning including San Antonio and San
Marcos. The Austin area could see winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts to
40mph within rain bands. The timing of these winds look to arrive
Friday night through Saturday morning. There is a low risk of brief
tornadoes east of Interstate 35 and south of Interstate 10 Friday
evening into the weekend associated with tropical rain bands.
No comments:
Post a Comment