Hurricane Harvey
With winds reaching upwards of 130-140 mph (209-225 kph), Hurricane Harvey made landfall along the Texas coast between Port Aransas and Port O'Conner late on Friday night. The storm has stalled over the state, causing devastating flooding, especially in the southeastern areas, which fall on the "dirty side" of the storm's rotation. Residents who safely sheltered in place during the worst of the storm itself are now evacuating their homes as river levees threaten to give way and water is released from dams to relieve pressure.
Houston, my former hometown, is experiencing never-before-seen devastation, with flood waters in some cases reaching the signs above the freeways. Austin and the Hill Country are under flash flood advisories.
Rain is supposed to continue the rest of the week. Current reports from NASA show the storm moving back into the Gulf of Mexico. Although it no longer has an organized center, the storm may well strengthen over the warm waters of the Gulf, with possible winds of 45 mph (72 kph).
As I wait to hear that my sister and her husband have safely reached a shelter away from the threat of the levee on the Brazos river being breached, I ask you to please keep Texas in your thoughts.
CW
Image:
Sources: