Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Update on catastrophic Texas flooding

As of Sunday evening, the three-day rainfall totals in parts of Houston, Texas have pushed past 21 inches.

Much of southeastern Texas has seen epic three day rainfall totals from Hurricane Harvey, which became Tropical Storm Harvey as its winds weakened.

Incredible flooding was already taking place in Houston Sunday morning:

The Houston area received about 6 additional inches of rain Sunday afternoon, and periods of heavy rain are expected Sunday night and Monday in Houston and much of southeastern Texas.

Harvey update

The Sunday evening update from the National Hurricane Center shows Harvey's maximum sustained winds remain at 40 mph:

BULLETIN

Tropical Storm Harvey Advisory Number 31

NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL092017

1000 PM CDT Sun Aug 27 2017

...LIFE-THREATENING FLOODING CONTINUES OVER SOUTHEASTERN TEXAS...

...DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL IN THE AFFECTED AREAS IF YOU ARE IN

A SAFE PLACE AND DO NOT DRIVE INTO FLOODED ROADWAYS...

 

SUMMARY OF 1000 PM CDT...0300 UTC...INFORMATION

-----------------------------------------------

LOCATION...28.8N 96.6W

ABOUT 20 MI...30 KM E OF VICTORIA TEXAS

ABOUT 30 MI...50 KM NNW OF PORT OCONNOR TEXAS

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...40 MPH...65 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...ESE OR 120 DEGREES AT 3 MPH...6 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1000 MB...29.53 INCHES

 

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

--------------------

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The Tropical Storm Warning has been extended from Port O'Connor

southward to Mesquite Bay and from Sargent northeastward to High

Island.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...

* Mesquite Bay to High Island

Catastrophic and life-threatening flooding continues in southeastern

Texas, and flash flood emergencies are in effect for portions of

this area. Please see warnings and other products issued by your

local National Weather Service office for additional information on

this life-threatening situation.

Interests elsewhere along the upper Texas coast and in southwestern

Louisiana should continue to monitor the progress of Harvey.

For storm information specific to your area, including possible

inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your

local National Weather Service forecast office.

 

DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK

------------------------------

At 1000 PM CDT (0300 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Harvey was

located inland near latitude 28.8 North, longitude 96.6 West. Harvey

is moving toward the east-southeast near 3 mph (6 km/h) and this

slow east-southeastward to southeastward motion is expected to

continue through Monday. A slow northeastward motion is expected to

begin on Tuesday. On the forecast track, the center of Harvey is

forecast to move off the middle Texas coast on Monday and meander

just offshore through Tuesday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts.

Some slight restrengthening is possible after the center moves off

the coast late Monday and Tuesday.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km)

primarily over water to the east of the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1000 mb (29.53 inches).

 

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

----------------------

RAINFALL: Harvey is expected to produce additional rainfall

accumulations of 15 to 25 inches through Friday over the upper Texas

coast and into southwestern Louisiana. Isolated storm totals may

reach 50 inches over the upper Texas coast, including the Houston/

Galveston metropolitan area. These rains are currently producing

catastrophic and life-threatening flooding, and flash flood

emergencies are in effect for portions of southeastern Texas.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL IN THE AFFECTED AREA IF YOU ARE IN A SAFE

PLACE. DO NOT DRIVE INTO FLOODED ROADWAYS. Please see warnings and

products issued by your local National Weather Service office for

additional information on this life-threatening situation.

Elsewhere, Harvey is expected to produce total rain accumulations of

5 to 15 inches farther south into the middle Texas coast, farther

west toward the Texas Hill Country, and farther east across south-

central Louisiana.

A list of rainfall observations compiled by the NOAA Weather

Prediction Center can be found at:

www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/nfdscc1.html

STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the

tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by

rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water is

expected to reach the following heights above ground if the peak

surge occurs at the time of high tide...

Port Aransas to Morgan City including Galveston Bay...1 to 3 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near the

area of onshore winds. Surge-related flooding depends on the

relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary

greatly over short distances. For information specific to your

area, please see products issued by your local National Weather

Service forecast office.

WIND: Tropical storm conditions are occurring in an area near the

center of Harvey and in portions of the tropical storm warning area

along the coast. Tropical storm conditions are likely to persist in

areas of onshore winds within the warning area during the next

couple of days.

SURF: Swells generated by Harvey are affecting the coasts of Texas

and Louisiana. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening

surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your

local weather office.

TORNADOES: A few tornadoes are possible through Monday near the

upper Texas coast and into far southwest Louisiana.

Harvey is expected to linger over Texas or drift slightly offshore in the next few days:

Potential additional rainfall accumulations of 15 to 25 inches in the next few days will make a very bad flooding situation even worse.

Harvey visuals

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:49 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.