Tropical Storm Leaves its Mark on Texas: Delivering Heavy Rainfall and Powerful Winds so What’s the Harold Impact Let’s Find Out.
Tropical Storm Harold Sweeps In
Tropical Storm Harold has descended upon Texas, bringing with it strong gusts of wind and relentless rain. This development is a welcome relief for a state grappling with severe drought conditions, but it also carries the potential for tornadoes and flash floods.
Landfall and Movement
Earlier today, Tropical Storm Harold made its initial landfall on a barrier island off the coast of Texas. According to the latest updates from the National Hurricane Center, Harold is currently moving at a pace of approximately 21 mph across southern Texas and northern Mexico. Notably, this marks the first tropical storm to hit Texas this hurricane season.
Rainfall and Tornado Threat
Richard Pasch, a senior meteorologist at the National Hurricane Center, predicts that Harold, previously referred to as “Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine,” could bring up to 7 inches of rainfall to South Texas by Wednesday. Additionally, there is concern regarding tornadoes, with the potential formation of a “couple” of tornadoes across South Texas during the afternoon.
Varied Rainfall Predictions
However, AccuWeather offers a different perspective, suggesting that specific localized areas may receive as much as a foot of rainfall. The exact path of this rainfall depends on how the storm organizes itself before reaching inland, as explained by AccuWeather’s lead hurricane forecaster, Dan Kottlowski.
Current Position and Wind Speed
As of 4 p.m. local time, Harold had already made landfall on Padre Island and was centered about 15 miles east of Laredo, Texas. The storm, with sustained winds of 35 mph, was moving in a west-northwest direction.
Balancing Act of Rainfall
While the rainfall is largely seen as beneficial for the drought-stricken region, Weather service forecaster William Churchill points out that an excessive amount of rainfall in a short period could lead to isolated cases of flash flooding.
Key Developments
Power Outages and Warning Alerts
Several noteworthy developments have occurred:
- AEP reports that more than 12,000 power outages have been recorded, with the majority concentrated on Padre Island and the Southside.
- A tropical storm warning is currently in effect from the mouth of the Rio Grande to Port O’Connor, situated 150 miles southwest of Houston.
- Additionally, a tropical storm watch has been issued for Port O’Connor to Sargent, located less than 100 miles northeast of Port O’Connor.
Harold’s Progress Across Texas
Rainfall in the Coastal Bend
In the Corpus Christi area, residents have experienced 3 to 5 inches of rainfall on Tuesday, as reported by the National Weather Service in Corpus Christi.
Transition Away from Coastal Bend
By Tuesday afternoon, Harold began moving away from the Coastal Bend, a region along the Gulf Coast of Texas. Its path took it toward the Rio Grande Plains and the South Texas Brush Country. By early afternoon, the Brush Country had already received between 1 and 2.5 inches of rain.
Record-Breaking Storm Formation
Unprecedented Speed
Tropical Storm Harold achieved an extraordinary feat on Tuesday morning, becoming the fourth named storm to form in just 39 hours. This remarkable speed shattered a long-standing record, as confirmed by Phil Klotzbach, a seasonal hurricane forecaster at Colorado State University. The previous record was set in 1893 and matched in 1980. Notably, Harold marks the 9th official storm of the season, including an unnamed storm that formed in January.
Atlantic Hurricane Season
Ninth Official Storm
Harold is now the ninth official storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. Meteorologists at Colorado State University have predicted a total of 18 named storms by the season’s conclusion in November, with nine of them expected to reach hurricane strength.
An Unnamed Storm in January
An intriguing detail is that Harold is officially recognized as the eighth named storm. This distinction arises because it was later determined that another subtropical storm in January should have been given a name. Forecasts indicate that the 2023 hurricane season is set to be more active than usual, partly due to extremely warm ocean waters in the Atlantic, conducive to storm formation, according to meteorologists.
Active Months Ahead
As highlighted by AccuWeather, the most active months for hurricanes in the Atlantic are typically August, September, and October.
Tornado Warnings in Coastal Texas
Impact of Harold
As Harold moved inland, the National Weather Service in Corpus Christi issued numerous tornado warnings for cities and counties along the Gulf of Mexico coast and inland areas until early afternoon. The primary concerns revolved around the possibility of tornadoes and flash flooding, with the added potential for pea-sized hail.
Arrival After Impacting Florida and the Bahamas
Path of Rainfall
Across Mexico, rainfall amounts of 4 to 6 inches, with localized amounts of up to 10 inches, are expected across portions of northern Coahuila and northern Nuevo Leon on Tuesday through Wednesday.
Harold’s Previous Impact
Before reaching Texas, Harold brought heavy rainfall and gusty thunderstorms to the Bahamas late last week and affected parts of the Florida Peninsula over the weekend, as reported by AccuWeather. The Florida Keys experienced up to 3 inches of rain, while drought-stricken areas along the west coast of the Florida Peninsula received 0.25 to 1 inch.
Ongoing Impact of Former Hurricane Hilary
Continued Flooding and Mudslides
The remnants of Hurricane Hilary continue to impact the Southwest, resulting in widespread flooding and mudslides. This follows the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in nearly a century, which moved north and posed a threat to parts of Oregon and Idaho with torrential rains. The National Weather Service has issued warnings about the possibility of “life-threatening and locally catastrophic flooding” across a swath of the West, extending from Oregon to the Rocky Mountains.
Near Palm Springs, California
In an extraordinary rescue operation, 14 seniors were saved from a Cathedral City home care facility near Palm Springs, California. The city’s fire chief described this rescue as unlike anything he had encountered in his 34-year career. These seniors were among the 46 individuals who required rescue after a mudflow on Sunday night trapped several people in cars, homes, and even a train. Although Hilary had been downgraded to a tropical storm when it reached the Palm Springs area, it still delivered over 3 inches of rain, leading to flooding in low-lying desert areas and damage to some homes.
Franklin’s Impact on the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Puerto Rico
Franklin’s Current Status
Tropical Storm Franklin is currently exhibiting a slow drift with no change in intensity, according to the National Weather Service. The storm, with sustained winds of 50 mph, is centered about 250 miles south of the Dominican Republic and is heading toward the island of Hispaniola, shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the southern coasts of both nations, with some areas expected to receive over a foot of rain through Wednesday, as per the weather service. Parts of Puerto Rico could also see up to 6 inches of rainfall.
