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.
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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
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