Tropical Storm Harvey Rapidly Strengthening

Harvey intensified overnight and is now a Tropical Storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. Harvey is moving towards the Texas coast, to the NNW, at 10 mph. The latest analyses shows Harvey is in a favorable area for continued strengthening, and the latest microwave imagery shows Harvey has a closed eye wall. This means Hurricane status will likely be met later today as the winds ‘catch up’ with the closed eye wall and decrease in pressure, and Harvey will likely make landfall as a Hurricane near Corpus Christi late Friday night/early Saturday morning.

Microwave Satellite

IR Imagery

NHC Cone

Spaghetti Plot

Hurricane Warnings are in effect for Port Mansfield to Matagorda, Texas; Tropical Storm Warnings are now in effect north of Matagorda to High Island, Texas and south of Port Mansfield, Texas to the mouth of the Rio Grande. Once Harvey moves inland in Texas, it will likely meander in southern Texas for a day or two. This will cause extensive, deadly flooding for much of southern Texas and southern parts of central Texas. Widespread 10-25″ of rain are possible with isolated amounts in excessive of 30″. San Antonio, Austin, and Houston are included in this flood threat.

GFS Rainfall Totals

More details on the impacts across other Gulf States later today.