[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

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Hurricane Harvey Local Statement Special Advisory Number 17
National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX  AL092017
122 PM CDT Thu Aug 24 2017

This product covers SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS

**Hurricane Harvey to bring a significant life-threatening heavy
 rainfall event to South Central Texas**

NEW INFORMATION
---------------

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - None

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Atascosa, Bastrop,
      Bexar, Caldwell, Fayette, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Lavaca, and
      Wilson
    - A Hurricane Warning is in effect for De Witt and Karnes

* STORM INFORMATION:
    - About 460 miles southeast of San Antonio TX or about 400 miles
      southeast of Cuero TX
    - 24.4N 93.6W
    - Storm Intensity 85 mph
    - Movement North-northwest or 335 degrees at 10 mph

SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------

Harvey continues to strengthen and is now a Category One Hurricane.
Harvey is still moving slowly northwestward in the Gulf of Mexico.
This northwestward movement is expected to continue and Harvey should
approach the middle Texas coast Friday afternoon into Saturday.
Confidence continues to increase for tropical storm winds and a
significant heavy rainfall event across South Central Texas beginning
Friday afternoon and continuing through the weekend. Flash flooding and
river flooding continue to be the main concerns, mainly within the
Tropical Storm Warning and Flash Flood Watch areas.

Storm total rainfall amounts from Friday through Monday afternoon
could be in the 8 to 15 inch range east of Interstate 35 with isolated
totals in excess of 20 inches possible over areas south of Interstate
10 as Harvey is expected to stall over the area. Devastating mainstem
river flooding is possible east of Interstate 35 and south of
Interstate 10.

Additionally, hurricane force winds of 70 to 80 mph will be possible
for the counties within the Hurricane Warning, while 40 to mph winds
with some gusts to 60 mph will be possible for areas within the
Tropical Storm Warning. The timing of these winds look to arrive
Friday evening 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.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------

* FLOODING RAIN:
Protect against life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible
extensive impacts across areas east of Interstate 35 and south of
Interstate 10. Potential impacts include:
    - Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and rescues.
    - Rivers and tributaries may rapidly overflow their banks in
      multiple places. Small streams, creeks, canals, arroyos, and
      ditches may become dangerous rivers. In mountain areas,
      destructive runoff may run quickly down valleys while
      increasing susceptibility to rockslides and mudslides. Flood
      control systems and barriers may become stressed.
    - Flood waters can enter many structures within multiple
      communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed
      away. Many places where flood waters may cover escape routes.
      Streets and parking lots become rivers of moving water with
      underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become dangerous.
      Many road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed out.

Protect against dangerous rainfall flooding having possible limited
to significant impacts across east of Interstate 35 and south of Interstate
10.

* WIND:
Protect against life-threatening wind having possible devastating
impacts across areas in the Tropical Storm and Hurricane Warnings
mainly east of Interstate 35. Potential impacts in
this area include:
    - Structural damage to sturdy buildings, some with complete roof
      and wall failures. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Damage
      greatly accentuated by large airborne projectiles. Locations
      may be uninhabitable for weeks or months.
    - Numerous large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and
      roadway signs blown over.
    - Many roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban
      or heavily wooded places. Many bridges, causeways, and access
      routes impassable.
    - Widespread power and communications outages.

Also, protect against life-threatening wind having possible limited
to extensive impacts across areas in the Tropical Storm and Hurricane Warnings
mainly east of Interstate 35.

* TORNADOES:
Protect against a tornado event having possible limited impacts
across areas in the Tropical Storm and Hurricane Warnings
mainly east of Interstate 35. Potential impacts include:
    - The occurrence of isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution
      of emergency plans during tropical events.
    - A few places may experience tornado damage, along with power
      and communications disruptions.
    - Locations could realize roofs peeled off buildings, chimneys
      toppled, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned,
      large tree tops and branches snapped off, shallow-rooted trees
      knocked over, moving vehicles blown off roads, and small boats
      pulled from moorings.

Elsewhere across SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS, little to no impact is
anticipated.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
----------------------------------

* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
Now is the time to bring to completion all preparations to protect
life and property in accordance with your emergency plan.

Check-in with your emergency points of contact among family, friends,
and workmates. Inform them of your status and well-being. Let them know
how you intend to ride out the storm and when you plan to check-in
again.

In emergencies it is best to remain calm. Stay informed and focused
on the situation at hand. Exercise patience with those you encounter.
Be a Good Samaritan and helpful to others.

If relocating to a nearby shelter or to the home of a family member
or friend, drive with extra caution, especially on secondary roads.
Remember, many bridges and causeways will be closed once higher winds
arrive. Also, if you encounter water covering the road, seek an
alternate route. Always obey official road signs for closures and
detours.

Closely monitor NOAA Weather radio or other local news outlets for
official storm information. Be ready to adapt to possible changes to
the forecast.

* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
- For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov
- For information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org
- For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org

NEXT UPDATE
-----------

The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather
Service in Austin/San Antonio TX around 5 PM CDT, or sooner if
conditions warrant.

$$
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