Tropical Storm Harvey continues to have significant impacts on Texas as a catastrophic, life-threatening flood event.
- Tropical Storm Harvey has winds of 45 mph
- Forecasters says parts of Texas may see 50 inches of water
- Harvey made lanfall in TX around 11 p.m. Friday as a CAT 4
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"There are so many people on their roofs right now that we are inundated with the number of people that have medical emergencies," said Capt. Kevin D. Oditt of the U.S. Coast Guard in the sector of Huston and Galveston.
Harvey came ashore late Friday about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northeast of Corpus Christi, Texas, as a Category 4 hurricane but has since been downgraded to a tropical storm. The slow-moving storm has caused catastrophic flooding in Texas.
At least nine people are believed to be dead and crews have rescued thousands in the Houston area. Many more are trapped in the floodwaters as Harvey continues to drop massive amounts of rain.
The center is located 70 east of Port O’Connor and is moving east-southeast at 3 mph.
On this track, it will re-enter the Gulf of Mexico and hover offshore through tomorrow. Over warm water, this will enable some potential strengthening before moving back onshore by Wednesday. Harvey is expected to linger over East Texas through Friday.
Harvey continues to tap into Gulf moisture, fueling bands of intense rain and rotating thunderstorms; isolated tornadoes remain a threat today within any of these bands.
Winds are up to 45 mph, classifying Harvey as a Tropical Storm.
The Houston metro area has felt the brunt of the heaviest rainfall with more than 2 feet measured since Friday. Houston International Airport typically sees an average of 49.77 inches in a year; since June 1, more than 46 inches of rain has been measured, therefore nearly a year’s worth of rain has fallen in three months.
Locally, widespread heavy rain has filled up low water crossings and has made many roads impassable. Flooded roads should not be traveled on today. A flash flood watch is in effect for much of the area until at Tuesday evening.
Harvey is expected to produce more rainfall, adding onto these historic levels. Additional accumulations of 10 to 20 inches over the middle and upper Texas Coast into southwest Louisiana are possible through Thursday with isolated storm totals in excess of 50 inches.
Dangerous storm surge remains a threat at the coast, where additional flooding is possible due to rising waters moving inland. One to 3 feet of surge is possible from Port Aransas to Morgan City including Galveston Bay.
Elsewhere in the tropics, Potential Tropical Cyclone Ten has formed off the northeast coast of Florida. It will slowly advance to the waters offshore Georgia or the Carolinas today.
There is one other area of potential development that is moving off the coast of Africa, and may shift into more favorable waters for strengthening by midweek over the Central Atlantic. The next names on the 2017 list are Irma and Jose.
Thousands of people sought shelter and many were thankful to have the most basic needs.
“We got food and water and bedding and clothes if you needed it. We were all wet when we came in, they gave us dry clothes as a way to get warm because we were freezing and cold and just wet,” Julie Baker, an evacuee, said.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he has received offers of help from across the country.
FEMA officials say they are prepared to help parts of Texas recover for at least the next two years.
President Donald Trump is expected to visit Texas on Tuesday, but he has tweeted out about Harvey.
HISTORIC rainfall in Houston, and all over Texas. Floods are unprecedented, and more rain coming. Spirit of the people is incredible.Thanks!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2017
Going to a Cabinet Meeting (tele-conference) at 11:00 A.M. on #Harvey. Even experts have said they've never seen one like this!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2017