[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

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WTUS84 KHGX 220918
HLSHGX
TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-300-313-335>338-436>438-221730-

Tropical Storm Beta Local Statement Advisory Number 19
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX  AL222020
418 AM CDT Tue Sep 22 2020

This product covers Southeast Texas

**PERSISTENT RAINBANDS CAUSING DANGEROUS FLOODING ACROSS PORTIONS OF
SOUTHEAST TEXAS.**

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

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - None

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Coastal Jackson,
      Coastal Matagorda, Inland Brazoria, Inland Galveston, Inland
      Jackson, Inland Matagorda, Matagorda Islands, Southern Liberty,
      and Wharton
    - A Storm Surge Warning and Tropical Storm Warning are in effect
      for Brazoria Islands, Chambers, Coastal Brazoria, Coastal
      Galveston, Coastal Harris, and Galveston Island and Bolivar
      Peninsula

* STORM INFORMATION:
    - About 120 miles west-southwest of Galveston TX or about 30
      miles north-northwest of Port O'Connor TX
    - 28.8N 96.7W
    - Storm Intensity 40 mph
    - Movement Northwest or 315 degrees at 3 mph

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

Tropical Storm Beta made landfall on the southern end of the Matagorda
Peninsula around 10pm CDT with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. It will
slowly move to the northeast through midweek. Bands of heavy rain will
continue to train across portions of Southeast Texas through the day
tomorrow, with the rain threat not ending until Wednesday when Beta is
out of the area. The heavy rain will cause street flooding and for creeks
and bayous to swell past their banks. Within these rainbands, 5 to 10 inches
of rain have already fallen with additional rain expected. Flooding concerns
along the coast will be compounded with elevated tides due to the onshore
winds persisting overnight. Surge will become less of an issue later today,
but concerns for coastal flooding will remain through midweek.

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

* FLOODING RAIN:
Potential impacts from the flooding rain are still unfolding across
Southeast Texas with heavy rainbands moving through Galveston, Harris
counties, and areas around Matagorda Bay. Remain well guarded against
life-threatening flood waters having additional devastating 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.

Potential impacts from the flooding rain are still unfolding across
north of Interstate 10. Remain well guarded against life-threatening
flood waters having possible limited to extensive impacts.

* SURGE:
Potential impacts from the main surge event are now unfolding across
the coast north of Sargent and around the Galveston Bay area. Remain well
away from life-threatening surge having additional significant impacts. If
realized, these impacts include:
    - Areas of inundation with storm surge flooding accentuated by
      waves. Damage to several buildings, mainly near the coast.
    - Sections of near-shore escape routes and secondary roads become
      weakened or washed out, especially in usually vulnerable low
      spots.
    - Major beach erosion with heavy surf breaching dunes. Strong and
      numerous rip currents.
    - Moderate damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers.
      Several small craft broken away from moorings, especially in
      unprotected anchorages.

Potential impacts from the main surge event are also now unfolding
around the Matagorda Bay area up to Sargent. Remain well away from locally
hazardous surge having possible limited impacts.

Elsewhere across Southeast Texas, little to no impact is anticipated.

* WIND:
Potential impacts from the main wind event are now unfolding across
Southeast Texas. Remain well sheltered from hazardous wind having
possible limited impacts. If realized, these impacts
include:
    - Damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored
      mobile homes. Unsecured lightweight objects blown about.
    - Many large tree limbs broken off. A few trees snapped or
      uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are
      shallow rooted. Some fences and roadway signs blown over.
    - A few roads impassable from debris, particularly within urban
      or heavily wooded places. Hazardous driving conditions on
      bridges and other elevated roadways.
    - Scattered power and communications outages.

* TORNADOES:
Potential impacts from tornadoes are still unfolding across Southeast
Texas. Remain well braced against a tornado event having possible limited
impacts. 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 Southeast Texas, little to no impact is anticipated.

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

* EVACUATIONS:

Do not enter evacuated areas until officials have
given the all clear to return.

* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:

Keep your cell phone charged and in power-saving mode. If you lose
power, use it sparingly and mainly for personal emergencies and
check-ins.

Do not be a thrill seeker or risk your life for senseless photos or
videos.

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles. Be especially cautious at night when it is
harder to recognize the dangers of flooding.

* 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 Houston/Galveston TX around 10 AM CDT, or sooner if
conditions warrant.

$$
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