Beta Now a Strong Tropical Storm; Hurricane & Storm Surge Watches Issued for Parts of the Texas Coast

BULLETIN
Tropical Storm Beta Advisory Number 6
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL222020
1000 PM CDT Fri Sep 18 2020

AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTERS FIND BETA STRONGER

STORM SURGE AND HURRICANE WATCHES ISSUED FOR A PORTION OF THE TEXAS COAST

SUMMARY OF 1000 PM CDT…0300 UTC…INFORMATION
———————————————–
LOCATION…25.5N 92.3W
ABOUT 305 MI…495 KM E OF MOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE
ABOUT 315 MI…510 KM SW OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…60 MPH…95 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…NNE OR 30 DEGREES AT 12 MPH…19 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…996 MB…29.42 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS
——————–
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for…
* Port Mansfield, TX to High Island, TX including Baffin Bay, Corpus Christi Bay, Copano Bay, Aransas Bay, San Antonio Bay, Matagorda Bay, and Galveston Bay

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…
* Port Aransas Texas to High Island Texas

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for…
* South of Port Aransas Texas to the Mouth of the Rio Grande
* East of High Island Texas to Morgan City Louisiana

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
———————-
At 1000 PM CDT (0300 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Beta was located near latitude 25.5 North, longitude 92.3 West. Beta is moving toward the north-northeast near 12 mph (19 km/h). A slow westward motion is expected to begin late Saturday, with a slow northwestward motion forecast to begin late Sunday and continue through late Monday. On the forecast track, the center of Beta will slowly approach the Texas coast into early next week.

Data from the Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast, and Beta is expected to become a hurricane on Sunday.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km) from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 996 MB (29.42 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
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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…

* Port Mansfield, TX to High Island, TX including Baffin Bay, Corpus Christi Bay, Copano Bay, Aransas Bay, San Antonio Bay, Matagorda Bay, and Galveston Bay…2-4 ft
* The mouth of the Rio Grande to Port Mansfield, TX…1-3 ft
* High Island, TX to Morgan City, LA including Sabine Lake, Calcasieu Lake, and Vermilion Bay…1-3 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle and can vary greatly over short distances. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.

WIND: Hurricane conditions are possible within the hurricane watch area by late Monday or Monday night, with tropical storm conditions possible by late Sunday. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the tropical storm watch area along the upper Texas and southwestern Louisiana coast as early as late Saturday. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the tropical storm watch area along the south Texas coast late Sunday.

RAINFALL: There is an increasing risk of heavy rainfall and flooding along the northwest Gulf Coast Sunday through at least the middle of next week as Beta is forecast to move slowly toward and along or offshore of the coast through that time. For additional information, see products from your local National Weather Service office.

SURF: Swells are expected to increase and reach the coast of Texas and the Gulf Coast of Mexico over the weekend, generated by a combination of Beta and a cold front entering the northern Gulf of Mexico. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.

Category: ALL POSTS, Severe Weather, Tropical