Hanna Strengthens Even More, Getting Close to Cat. 2 Strength Before Landfall

SUMMARY OF 400 PM CDT…2100 UTC…INFORMATION

LOCATION…26.8N 97.2W
ABOUT 20 MI…30 KM NE OF PORT MANSFIELD TEXAS
ABOUT 70 MI…115 KM S OF CORPUS CHRISTI TEXAS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…90 MPH…150 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…WSW OR 255 DEGREES AT 8 MPH…13 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…973 MB…28.74 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for…
* Port Mansfield to Sargent Texas

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for…
* Port Mansfield to Port Aransas Texas

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
* Barra el Mezquital Mexico to Port Mansfield Texas
* Port Aransas to Port O’Connor Texas

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK

At 400 PM CDT (2100 UTC), the center of Hurricane Hanna was located near latitude 26.8 North, longitude 97.2 West. Hanna is moving toward the west-southwest near 8 mph (13 km/h) and this motion is expected to continue through Sunday. On the forecast track, the center of Hanna should make landfall along the Texas coast within the hurricane warning area later this afternoon or early this evening. After landfall, the center of Hanna will move inland over south Texas tonight and move into northeastern Mexico on Sunday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 90 mph (150 km/h) with higher gusts. Some slight strengthening is still possible before Hanna makes landfall in a few hours. Rapid weakening is expected after Hanna moves inland.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles (45 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km). A TCOON observation station at Laguna Madre, Texas, recently reported a sustained wind of 64 mph (104 km/h) and a gust to 76 mph (122 km/h).

The estimated minimum central pressure is 973 MB (28.74 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide…

Baffin Bay to Port Aransas including Corpus Christi Bay…4-6 ft

Port Mansfield to Baffin Bay…2-4 ft

North of Port Aransas to Sargent including Copano Bay, Aransas Bay, San Antonio Bay, and Matagorda Bay…2-4 ft

The mouth of the Rio Grande to Port Mansfield…1-3 ft

North of Sargent to High Island including Galveston Bay…1-2 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the right of the landfall location. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle and can vary greatly over short distances.

WIND: Hurricane conditions will continue in portions of the warning area through this evening. Tropical storm conditions are occurring in portions of the tropical storm warning area and will spread inland through this evening.

RAINFALL: Hanna is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 6 to 12 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of 18 inches through Monday in south Texas and into the Mexican states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and northern Tamaulipas. This rain will produce life-threatening flash flooding, rapid rises on small streams, and isolated minor to moderate river flooding.

Hanna is also expected to produce 3 to 5 inches of rain along the upper Texas and Louisiana coasts.

SURF: Swells generated by Hanna are expected to increase and affect much of the Texas and Louisiana coasts during the next couple of days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

TORNADOES: A few tornadoes are possible this afternoon and overnight over parts of the lower to middle Texas coastal plain.

Category: ALL POSTS, Severe Weather, Tropical