Tropical Storm Harvey an Extremely Dangerous Flood Threat for Texas, Louisiana; Hurricane, Storm Surge Watches Issued
August 24, 2017
It will track toward the Texas Gulf Coast and make landfall late Friday. Harvey is forecast to strengthen to a hurricane before landfall.
- Harvey is currently a tropical storm in the western Gulf of Mexico.
- It will track toward the Texas Gulf Coast and make landfall as a hurricane Friday night.
- Harvey is likely to intensify before landfall.
- Harvey will then stall or meander for a few days, leading to a dangerous flood threat in parts of Texas and Louisiana.
- Hurricane, tropical storm and storm surge warnings have been issued for parts of Texas.
Hurricane and storm surge warnings have been issued as Tropical Storm Harvey is strengthening rapidly, and is poised to bring an extremely dangerous combination of torrential rainfall, storm-surge flooding and destructive winds to areas near the Texas Gulf beginning Friday, before taking a strange, meandering path next week. Learn more about flood protection.
A hurricane warning has been issued for a portion of the Texas coast, from north of Port Mansfield to Matagorda, including the city of Corpus Christi. A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions are likely within the watch area. They are typically issued within 36 hours of the expected onset of hurricane-force winds.
Tropical storm warnings are in effect from north of Matagorda to High Island, Texas, including the cities of Houston and Galveston. This means tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours.
With a favorable environment that includes deep, warm Gulf of Mexico water, and low wind shear, Harvey will continue to strengthen, becoming a formidable hurricane before its landfall along the Texas coast overnight Friday night or early Saturday morning.
It is now likely the intensification will be rapid, featuring at least an increase in maximum sustained winds of 35 mph in a time period of 24 hours or less, so it's not out of the question Harvey could be a Category 3 hurricane at landfall.
This would be the nation's first Category 3 or stronger hurricane landfall since Hurricane Wilma struck South Florida in October 2005, an almost 12-year run.
- Blue Monster Prep
