Hurricane Harvey reached Texas on Friday evening as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 130mph and maximum winds over 150mph. Winds have declined as the eye of the storm has moved completely over land, but at 8:00 AM CDT, the storm remains a Category 1 hurricane with winds in excess of 85 mph. Harvey is expected to be downgraded to a tropical storm sometime on Saturday.
Landfall for the storm took place some 30-40 miles north of Corpus Christi, near the small town of Rockport. Damage in that area is extensive. Approximately 130 were evacuated from a hotel where they were trying to ride out the storm, and numerous homes and business have been damaged. At least ten people in the Rockport area are known to have been injured when roofs collapsed both at the local high school and at a senior living facility. At the moment, there are (thankfully) no other known injuries.
"We know there is widespread devastation," Rockport Mayor CJ Wax said during a Saturday morning interview with The Weather Channel. "I think it’s safe to say we took a Cat. 4 (hurricane) right on the nose, and we’d appreciate everyone’s prayers."
In addition to the high winds, flooding remains a danger. Locations along the coast have been pounded by waves topping 25 feet and a storm surge up to 12 feet. High tide in the area occurred just after 8:00 AM CDT, which could compound wave and surge damage.
While most of the damage from waves and surge is restricted to areas near the coast, the same is not true of rain. The National Hurricane Center warns that Harvey is expected to linger in the area for an extended period. The center of the storm is now near the town of Victoria, and is expected to continue moving slowly northwest for the next 24 hours. At that point, Harvey will move to the south, with winds still topping 50 mph, with the center of the storm near Corpus Christi again on Monday/Tuesday before turning northeast and moving slowly up the coast. Over this period, the local area is expected to collect 20 to 30 inches of rain with some localities receiving over 40 inches. The European model is calling for local rainfall in excess of 60 inches—five feet of rain.
Some models suggest the storm may reenter the Gulf on Tuesday, presenting the possibility that Harvey could again strengthen to a hurricane level storm. However, the National Hurricane Center model suggests that storm will move further inland on Wednesday and Thursday while still bringing significant rain to the area.
The extensive area of continuing wind and rain is likely to slow reporting out of the area. This is not a “post hurricane” situation. This is an ongoing storm with dangerous winds and life-threatening rain, waves, and surge. If you are in the area, do not attempt to drive on flooded roads. Stay safe.
Note that the Fairfield Hotel, where the news crew says they are “hunkered down” and which a worker says rated for a Category 5 storm, is the hotel that was severely damaged and evacuated shortly thereafter.
Watchers of StormChasers will remember Reed Timmer for his armored tornado-chasing vehicle. Here it is in a cyclone that’s all too easy to catch.