Texas residents are fleeing inland as Hurricane Harvey takes aim at the Gulf Coast. Harvey is expected to be the most severe hurricane to make landfall in the United States since the 2005 devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina. A dramatic storm surge is predicted to cause extensive flooding across the region. It will also mark the first time President Trump will be tasked with handling a natural disaster emergency response. Yahoo News will offer live updates here through the weekend on the storm’s path, its impact and the emergency response.
Category 4 Hurricane Harvey makes landfall in Texas
What we know:
- Harvey is currently a Category 4 storm with max winds of 130 mph.
-
Harvey came ashore at 10 p.m. Friday about 30 miles east-northeast of
Corpus Christi between Port Aransas and Port O'Connor, Texas.
- The cyclone's forward speed is 7 mph.
- Forecasters predict the storm could double back to where it made landfall by Monday night.
-
President Donald Trump says he has signed a disaster declaration for
Texas, "which unleashes the full force of government help!" he wrote on
Twitter.
- Harvey is the first Category 4 hurricane to hit the Texas coast since Hurricane Carla in 1961.
Harvey could produce rainfall totals of 20 to 30 inches in parts of Texas
Latest from the National Weather Service in Corpus Christi:
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.
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.
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.
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 rain bands move onshore through Saturday.
The greatest threat for isolated tornadoes will be along and to the
east of the center of Harvey.
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