[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

Wed Jun 30 15:01:44 CDT 2010

WTUS84 KBRO 302000
HLSBRO

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
HURRICANE ALEX LOCAL STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
300 PM CDT WED JUN 30 2010

...ALEX RACING TOWARD LANDFALL IN NORTHEAST MEXICO FLOODING RAINS
AND TORNADOES THE CONTINUING THREAT FOR THE LOWER RIO GRANDE
VALLEY...

.AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS LOCAL STATEMENT PROVIDES IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR PEOPLE AND MARINE INTERESTS IN RIO GRANDE
VALLEY AND THE LOWER TEXAS GULF WATERS.

.WATCHES/WARNINGS...
A HURRICANE WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
KENEDY...COASTAL WILLACY AND COASTAL CAMERON.

A HURRICANE WIND WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
INLAND WILLACY...INLAND CAMERON.

A TROPICAL STORM WIND WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING
LOCATIONS...STARR...HIDALGO.

A TROPICAL STORM WIND WATCH CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING
LOCATIONS...ZAPATA...JIM HOGG AND BROOKS.

FOR MARINE INTERESTS...A HURRICANE WARNING CONTINUES FOR ALL OF
THE LOWER TEXAS GULF WATERS OUT 60 NM BETWEEN BAFFIN BAY AND THE
MOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE...INCLUDING THE LAGUNA MADRE.

A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF DEEP SOUTH TEXAS. PLEASE
LISTEN CLOSELY FOR ANY FLOOD WARNINGS THAT MIGHT BE IN EFFECT FOR
YOUR AREA.

.STORM INFORMATION...
AT 2 PM HE CENTER OF HURRICANE ALEX WAS ESTIMATED TO BE NEAR 24.53
NORTH LATITUDE 96.60 LONGITUDE...OR 108 MILES SOUTH SOUTHEAST OF
BROWNSVILLE. ALEX HAS ACCELERATED AND IS NOW MOVING NORTHWEST AT
18 MPH BUT IS EXPECTED TO SLOW A LITTLE BEFORE MAKING LANDFALL
BETWEEN 50 AND 90 MILES SOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE LATE THIS
AFTERNOON OR EARLY THIS EVENING. ALEX HAS SUSTAINED WINDS OF 85
MPH AROUND THE IMMEDIATE CENTER...WITH TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS
EXTENDING 150 TO 200 MILES ALONG THE NORTH AND EAST SIDE OF THE
STORM. THIS INCLUDES THE LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY COAST.

.SITUATION OVERVIEW...
THE MAIN THREAT TO THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND DEEP SOUTH TEXAS
WILL THE POTENTIAL OF WIDESPREAD FLOODING WITH RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF
6 TO 12 INCHES WITH SOME LOCATIONS REACHING 12 TO 15 INCHES. THE
INCREASING SIZE OF ALEX BRINGS THE POTENTIAL FOR 20 INCHES IN A
WORSE CASE SCENARIO. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS CONTINUE TO
EXPAND...AND SUSTAINED WINDS OF 35 TO 50 MPH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR
HURRICANE FORCE CAN BE EXPECTED OVER EASTERN CAMERON AND WILLACY
COUNTY FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS. TIDES ARE ALSO RISING STEADILY
PARTICULARLY ALONG SHORELINES OF THE LAGUNA MADRE BAY...AND MINOR
COASTAL FLOODING MAY DEVELOP LATER TODAY ACROSS LOW LYING AREAS OF
COASTAL CAMERON AND WILLACY COUNTY. FINALLY...THE TORNADO THREAT
CONTINUES THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS FEEDER BANDS IN THE
NORTHEAST QUADRANT WILL CONTINUE.

.TORNADOES...
AT LEAST THREE TORNADOES AND ONE FUNNEL CLOUD HAVE BEEN REPORTED
SINCE LATE THIS MORNING. A TORNADO WATCH REMAIN IN EFFECT FROM
THE KING RANCH AND FALFURRIAS SOUTH TO HIDALGO COUNTY AND EAST TO
THE COAST...INCLUDING THE GULF WATERS OUT TO 20 NM...UNTIL 8 PM.
OUTER BANDS ARE PRODUCING INTENSE SQUALLS...AND ROTATION WITHIN
THEM WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE QUICK BUT DANGEROUS TORNADOES THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

RESIDENTS IN POOR FLOOD PRONE LOCATIONS ARE URGED TO CONSIDER
EVACUATING TO HIGHER GROUND THIS MORNING! RAINFALL ASSOCIATED WITH
ALEX MAY RIVAL OR IN A FEW CASES EXCEED TOTALS SEEN WITH HURRICANE
DOLLY IN 2008.

A MANDATORY REMOVAL OF ALL RECREATIONAL AND HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES
FROM ALL CAMERON COUNTY PARKS IS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT. VOLUNTARY
EVACUATIONS ARE UNDERWAY FOR RESIDENTS OF SOUTH PADRE ISLAND AND
PORT ISABEL. THERE IS ALSO A VOLUNTARY EVACUATION FOR RESIDENTS IN
WILLACY COUNTY. SHELTERS ARE CURRENTLY OPEN IN THE FOLLOWING
LOCATIONS...PORTER HIGH SCHOOL AND OZANAM CENTER IN
BROWNSVILLE...LOAVES AND FISHES IN HARLINGEN...BARRERA ELEMENTARY
IN SANTA ROSA...AND RAYMONDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL. HARLINGEN SOUTH HIGH
SCHOOL WILL OPEN AS A SHELTER AT 6 AM CDT WEDNESDAY MORNING. THERE
ARE 11 SHELTERS OPEN IN HIDALGO COUNTY...MOSTLY AT COUNTY SCHOOLS.
RESIDENTS OF HIDALGO COUNTY WHO LIVE IN MOBILE HOMES...OR IN
POORLY CONSTRUCTED WOOD FRAME HOMES...OR IN FLOOD PRONE
AREAS...ARE ADVISED TO EVACUATE.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED AS RECEIVED BY THIS
OFFICE.

&&

.NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN BROWNSVILLE AROUND OR BEFORE 6 PM CDT...OR AS
CONDITIONS WARRANT.

GMZ130-132-135-150-155-170-175-010000-
/O.CON.KBRO.HU.W.0001.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
LAGUNA MADRE FROM THE PORT OF BROWNSVILLE TO THE ARROYO COLORADO-
LAGUNA MADRE FROM THE ARROYO COLORADO TO 5 NM NORTH OF PORT
MANSFIELD TX-
LAGUNA MADRE FROM 5 NM NORTH OF PORT MANSFIELD TO BAFFIN BAY TX-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PORT MANSFIELD TO THE RIO GRANDE OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT MANSFIELD OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM PORT MANSFIELD TO THE RIO GRANDE EXTENDING FROM 20 TO
60 NM-
WATERS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT MANSFIELD EXTENDING FROM 20 TO
60 NM-
300 PM CDT WED JUN 30 2010

...HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT...

...NEW INFORMATION...
ALEX IS ACCELERATING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST MEXICAN COAST AND WILL
MAKE LANDFALL LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EARLY THIS EVENING. THE INNER
CORE WITH HURRICANE FORCE WINDS IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN SOUTH OF THE
BORDER. GUSTS TO HURRICANE FORCE MAY CONTINUE IN SMALL PORTIONS OF
THE STRONGEST CELLS IN FEEDER BANDS. TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL
8 PM THROUGH 20 NM OUT.

...WINDS AND SEAS...
WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO 35 TO 45 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS IN STRONGER
BANDS THROUGH THIS EVENING. SEAS WILL BUILD TO NEAR 25 FEET OFF
SHORE AND 19 TO 22 FEET NEARSHORE BY EVENING. HURRICANE FORCE
GUSTS MAY REACH THE GULF WATERS NEAR AND EAST OF THE MOUTH OF THE
RIO GRANDE. THESE CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH AT LEAST
MIDNIGHT AS WEST AND NORTHWEST MOVING FEEDER BANDS CONTINUE MOVING
ACROSS THE WATERS WELL AFTER LANDFALL OCCURS.

...TORNADOES AND WATERSPOUTS...
EMBEDDED WATERSPOUTS ARE LIKELY IN STRONGER BANDS AND SQUALLS THROUGH
THIS EVENING AS THE CORE OF ALEX SLOWLY TRACKS TOWARDS THE COAST.
BOATERS SEEKING LAST MINUTE SAFETY SHOULD BE AWARE FOR QUICK
DEVELOPING WATERSPOUTS AND BE READY TO TAKE COVER BELOW DECK AT A
MOMENTS NOTICE.

$$

TXZ251-256-257-010000-
/O.COR.KBRO.HU.W.1001.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
KENEDY-COASTAL WILLACY-COASTAL CAMERON-
300 PM CDT WED JUN 30 2010

...HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT...

...NEW INFORMATION...
ALEX IS ACCELERATING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST MEXICAN COAST AND WILL
MAKE LANDFALL LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EARLY THIS EVENING. THE INNER
CORE WITH HURRICANE FORCE WINDS IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN SOUTH OF THE
BORDER. GUSTS TO HURRICANE FORCE MAY CONTINUE IN SMALL PORTIONS OF
THE STRONGEST CELLS IN FEEDER BANDS. TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL
8 PM.

...WINDS...
SUSTAINED NORTHEAST WINDS WILL CONTINUE AT 30 TO 40 MPH THIS
AFTERNOON AND INTO THE OVERNIGHT WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH...EXCEPT 60
TO 65 MPH IN STRONGER BANDS LATE THIS AFTERNOON IN HEAVIER BANDS.
HURRICANE FORCE GUSTS...75 MPH OR HIGHER...MAY OCCUR IN SMALL
TORNADOES THAT DEVELOP IN THESE BANDS.

IMPACT STATEMENT:
FOR WIND 40 TO 50 MPH WITH GUSTS 60 TO 65 MPH:

MINOR DAMAGE WILL OCCUR TO MANY MOBILE HOMES.  POORLY CONSTRUCTED
HOMES MAY RECEIVE SOME WALL DAMAGE AND PARTIAL ROOF REMOVAL.  A
FEW HOUSES MAY HAVE MINOR DAMAGE TO ROOF SHINGLES AND SIDING.  A
FEW POOL CAGES AND LANAI SCREENS WILL BE DAMAGED.  UNSECURED
LIGHTWEIGHT ITEMS MAY BECOME PROJECTILES...CAUSING ADDITIONAL
DAMAGE. SOME ELECTRICAL WIRES WILL BE BLOWN DOWN...AND LOCAL POWER
OUTAGES ARE LIKELY.

MOST NEWLY PLANTED TREES AND SHRUBS WILL BE DAMAGED OR UPROOTED.
SOME ROTTING SMALL TREES WILL BE UPROOTED...AND ROTTEN LARGE
BRANCHES WILL SNAP. NUMEROUS SMALL TWIGS WILL SEPARATE FROM TREES.
A FEW PALM FRONDS WILL BE BLOWN DOWN.

...INLAND FLOODING...
FLASH FLOODING IS UNDERWAY IN CAMERON AND WILLACY COUNTY AS TWO
SPIRAL BANDS CONTINUE TO DROP SEVERAL INCHES OF RAIN IN PORTIONS
OF CAMERON AND WILLACY COUNTY. RAINFALL TOTALS AS OF 1 PM BETWEEN
3 AND 5 INCHES FROM BROWNSVILLE TO SOUTH PADRE ISLAND HAVE LIKELY
INCREASED TO 5 TO 7 INCHES...AND HEAVY RAINS ARE NOW LIKELY
DUMPING 2 TO 3 INCHES IN AN HOUR IN HARLINGEN TO ARROYO CITY.

STEADY SQUALLS OVERNIGHT MAY DROP ANOTHER 3 TO 5 INCHES BEFORE
RAIN TAPERS OFF ON THURSDAY. STORM TOTALS WILL RANGE FROM 6 TO 12
INCHES WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS AS HIGH AS 15 TO EVEN 20 INCHES WHERE
HEAVIER BANDS OF RAIN PERSIST ACROSS THE SAME AREAS.

EXPECT CONDITIONS SIMILAR TO DOLLY IN 2008...BUT FOR A MORE
WIDESPREAD AREA WHICH MAY INCLUDE THE CITY OF BROWNSVILLE AND
OTHER LOCATIONS ALONG THE RIO GRANDE.

A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE AREA. RESIDENTS CAN
PLAN ON THE FOLLOWING IMPACTS:

THIS IS BECOMING A DANGEROUS FLOOD SITUATION! IN OR NEAR POOR
DRAINAGE AREAS SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY DAMAGE WILL OCCUR LATER TODAY
INTO EARLY THURSDAY. MINOR PROPERTY DAMAGE IS POSSIBLE IN OTHER
AREAS. SOME POWER OUTAGES ARE EXPECTED.

WATER LEVELS IN VERY POOR DRAINAGE AREAS WILL APPROACH 5 FEET OR
HIGHER. OTHER POOR DRAINAGE LOCATIONS WILL HAVE RISES BETWEEN 2
AND 4 FEET. ELSEWHERE...EXPECT WATER RISES TO 1 TO 2 FEET.
NUMEROUS MAIN ROADS WILL BE CLOSED LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT. DRIVING IS
HIGHLY DISCOURAGED UNTIL WELL AFTER FLOOD WATERS RECEDE.

...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...
TIDES HAVE INCREASED TO 2.64 FEET ABOVE PREDICTED AT GAGING POINTS
ALONG LAGUNA MADRE BAY. STORM TIDES COULD RANGE UP TO 5 FEET BY
THIS EVENING...RESULTING IN 2 TO 4 FEET OF INUNDATION ABOVE GROUND
LEVEL RIGHT AT RESIDENCES ALONG IMMEDIATE SHORELINES OF LAGUNA
VISTA...LAGUNA HEIGHTS...AND PORT ISABEL THROUGH THIS EVENING WHEN
TIDES WILL BE HIGHEST. POOLING OF WATER IS ALSO LIKELY NEAR THE
ENTRANCE TO THE BROWNSVILLE SHIP CHANNEL. THE COMBINATION OF WAVE
SET UP...TIDE RUN UP...AND STORM SURGE WILL MAINTAIN WATER AT OR
NEAR THE DUNES TODAY...WHICH MAY ROLL THROUGH OPENINGS
PARTICULARLY AT NORTH END PUBLIC BEACH ACCESS POINTS BY AFTERNOON.
SEA WALLS SHOULD NOT SEE OVERTOPPING WITH THE CORE OF ALEX MAKING
LANDFALL SOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY COAST.

FOR 3 TO 4 FOOT SURGE:

ALL RESIDENTS LIVING ON PRONE SHORELINES CAN EXPECT A LITTLE WATER
INCURSION INTO THEIR HOMES. THOSE IN TYPICALLY FLOOD PRONE AREAS
MAY HAVE A FOOT OR TWO OF WATER IN THEIR HOMES...CAUSING MINOR
DAMAGE. SHORELINE ROADS MAY BRIEFLY CLOSE WITH UP TO TWO FEET OF
WATER ACROSS...EXCEPT THOSE IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS WHICH COULD HAVE
UPWARDS OF 3 FEET OF WATER ACROSS THEM. MODERATE BEACH EROSION IS
POSSIBLE.

CONDITIONS WILL BE WORSENED BY BATTERING WAVES.  SUCH WAVES WILL
INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF PROPERTY DAMAGE...ESPECIALLY TO
STRUCTURES ON OR VERY NEAR THE SHORELINE.

$$

TXZ254-255-010000-
/O.COR.KBRO.HI.W.0001.000000T0000Z-100701T1200Z/
INLAND WILLACY-INLAND CAMERON-
300 PM CDT WED JUN 30 2010

...HURRICANE WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM CDT
THURSDAY...