[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

Fri Aug 25 23:07:25 CDT 2017

WTUS84 KCRP 260407 CCA
HLSCRP
TXZ229>234-239>247-261200-

Hurricane Harvey Local Statement Advisory Number 23...CORRECTED
National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX  AL092017
1107 PM CDT Fri Aug 25 2017

This product covers SOUTH TEXAS

**Dangerous Major Hurricane Harvey makes landfall**

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

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for Bee, Goliad, Jim
      Wells, Live Oak, and Victoria

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - A Storm Surge Warning, Hurricane Warning, and Tropical Storm
      Warning are in effect for Victoria
    - A Storm Surge Warning and Hurricane Warning are in effect for
      Aransas, Calhoun, Kleberg, Nueces, Refugio, and San Patricio
    - A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Duval and McMullen
    - A Hurricane Warning and Tropical Storm Warning are in effect
      for Bee, Goliad, Jim Wells, and Live Oak

* STORM INFORMATION:
    - About 10 miles north-northeast of Port Aransas TX or about 50
      miles southwest of Port Oconnor TX
    - 28.0N 97.0W
    - Storm Intensity 130 mph
    - Movement Northwest or 325 degrees at 7 mph

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

Dangerous Category 4 Hurricane Harvey has just made landfall
along San Jose Island, around 4 miles east of Rockport.
Maximum sustained winds are near 130 mph with gusts to 155 mph.
Several reports of wind gusts around 125 mph have already occurred
within the eyewall. Hurricane force winds are expected to batter the
the eastern half of South Texas generally east of Highway 281 through
at least Saturday morning. Communities of Aransas Pass, Austwell,
Bayside, Fulton, Gregory, Port Aransas, Refugio, Rockport,
Seadrift, Tivoli, and Woodsboro will experience the strongest
winds from Harvey. Catastrophic impacts will occur in these
communities as the dangerous eyewall impacts these areas directly.
Widespread extensive damage will occur elsewhere across the
eastern half of South Texas as hurricane force wind gusts persists
through at least Saturday morning. Structural damage will occur
to sturdy buildings, some with complete roof and wall failures.
Numerous large trees will be snapped or uprooted. Driving is not
recommended as many roads will be impassable and too dangerous to
cross given the extreme winds.

Catastrophic and life-threatening flooding is expected from heavy
rainfall. Heavy rainfall is expected through much of the area
with rainfall totals of 20 to 30 inches with maximum amounts near
40 inches near and east of a line from near Port Aransas to near
Goliad. Outside that area, amounts of 10 to 20 inches are expected
from east of a Loyola Beach to George West line. Lesser amounts
are expected further west and southwest. These high rainfall
amounts will produce catastrophic and life threatening flash
flooding. The heaviest rains are expected to occur from tonight
through Sunday morning, and quite possibly into early next week
depending on how long Harvey remains over the area.

Catastrophic and life-threatening storm surge inundation is expected
to be 9 to 13 feet above ground level from Port Aransas to Port O'Connor.
South of Port Aransas, storm surge is expected to be 4 to 8 feet above
ground level.  Impacts would be felt along the Barrier Islands and into
the inland bays and waterways. Isolated locations could see slightly higher
inundation from Rockport to Port Lavaca.

Tornadoes and waterspouts will be possible as inner and outer
rainbands move onshore through Saturday. The greatest threat for
isolated tornadoes will be along and to the east of the center of
Harvey.

Mandatory evacuations have been issued for the following areas:
 - The city of Port Aransas
 - Aransas County
 - Refugio County
 - San Patricio County
 - Victoria County
 - Calhoun County
 - Eastern Kleberg County (Baffin Bay, Loyola Beach and Rivera Beach
   and areas east)

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

* WIND:
Potential impacts from the main wind event are now unfolding across
the Coastal Bend and Victoria Crossroads area. Remain well sheltered
from life-threatening wind having devastating impacts. If realized,
these impacts 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.

Potential impacts from the main wind event are also now unfolding
across areas of South Texas generally west of Interstate 37. Remain well
sheltered from life-threatening wind having possible limited to
extensive impacts.

* SURGE:
Potential impacts from the main surge event are now unfolding across
the Middle Texas Coast. Remain well away from life-threatening
surge having devastating impacts. If realized, these impacts include:
    - Widespread deep inundation, with storm surge flooding greatly
      accentuated by powerful battering waves. Structural damage to
      buildings, with many washing away. Damage greatly compounded
      from considerable floating debris. Locations may be
      uninhabitable for an extended period.
    - Near-shore escape routes and secondary roads washed out or
      severely flooded. Flood control systems and barriers may become
      stressed.
    - Extreme beach erosion. New shoreline cuts possible.
    - Massive damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers.
      Numerous small craft broken away from moorings with many lifted
      onshore and stranded.

* FLOODING RAIN:
Potential impacts from the flooding rain are still unfolding across
the Coastal Bend and Victoria Crossroads area, generally east of
Interstate 37.  Remain well guarded against life-threatening flood
waters having possible catastrophic impacts. If realized, these impacts
include:
    - Extreme rainfall flooding may prompt numerous evacuations and
      rescues.
    - Rivers and tributaries may overwhelmingly overflow their banks
      in many places with deep moving water. Small streams, creeks,
      canals, and ditches may become raging rivers. Flood control
      systems and barriers may become stressed.
    - Flood waters can enter numerous structures within multiple
      communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed
      away. Numerous places where flood waters may cover escape
      routes. Streets and parking lots become rivers of raging water
      with underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become very
      dangerous. Numerous road and bridge closures with some weakened
      or washed out.

Remain well guarded against life-threatening flood waters having
possible limited to devastating impacts.

* TORNADOES:
Potential impacts from tornadoes are still unfolding across an area
generally east of a line from Corpus Christi to Beeville. If realized,
these 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 TEXAS, little to no impact is anticipated.

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

* EVACUATIONS:

IMMINENT/ONGOING PHASE - Do not return to evacuated areas until
hazardous winds diminish and flood waters abate.

* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:

Now is the time to remain safely sheltered from the storm. Stay
inside and away from windows. Listen for updates and be ready in case
you lose electrical power. Locate your battery powered radio and
flashlight from your Emergency Supplies Kit. Keep these items close.

Do not venture outside while in the eye of a hurricane. Within the
eye, weather conditions may temporarily improve which can be
misleading. Once the eye passes, the wind will change direction and
return to dangerous speeds. Heavy rain will also return. Be smart and
remain safely hidden from the storm.

When major hurricanes make landfall, extreme winds bring a tremendous
threat to life and cause devastating to catastrophic damage. During
landfall, listen for extreme wind warnings which indicate the exact
timing and location of these incredible life-threatening winds. If
issued for you area, move to the safest place within your home or
shelter. Take the same life-saving actions as if it were a violent
tornado.

* 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 Corpus Christi TX around 130 AM CDT, or sooner if
conditions warrant.

$$

MB
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