Gulf Coast Hurricane Tracker

A single source reference on tropical weather predictions. With a traditional focus on the upper Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast we've maintained links to track all Atlantic Basin, Caribbean and eastern Pacific storm systems. We are now expanding our view to tropical storms throughout the world intending to be a comprehensive global storm tracking resource.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

T.D. Erin is making a MESS

Tropical Storm Erin began dumping rain on the Texas coast yesterday afternoon and overnight. The center of the storm's circulation came ashore in south Texas around 7:00 this morning, but the rainmaker is in the northeast quantrant. Heavy rains have caused bad flooding in south Houston and surrounding areas.

The heavy rain caused a roof collapse that killed one person and injured another
at about 11:30 a.m. near the loading dock at the Randalls store at Clear Lake
City Boulevard and Space Center Boulevard. (Houston Chronicle)

Store employees said they heard a loud crashing sound and soon after hurried out of the store at the corner of Clear Lake City Blvd. and Space Center. Store employees said the entire back roof of the store, near the loading dock, came crashing down.

Firemen from the Houston Fire Department frantically removed the collapse debris by hand. At one point they brought in the Jaws of Life to lift some heavier roof material.
Also a large part of the roof at the old Maxwell House Factory on Harrisburg near Drennan collapsed.

There were no reports of any injuries there (KHOU Channel 11)


HOUSTON -- Tropical Storm Erin fell apart soon after making landfall, but the system's outer bands sent massive rains rushing into the Houston area Thursday, flooding streets and stranding hundreds of motorists, KPRC Local 2 reported (KPRC Channel 2)

Minor Storm causes major Headaches (KHOU Channel 11)

Flash flood warning extended into rush hour (Houston Chronicle)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Harris County: Flash Flood Watch, Flash Flood Warning:

Galveston County: Flash Flood Watch

Flash Flood Watch:

Issued at: 3:51 PM CDT 8/16/07, expires at: 12:00 AM CDT 8/17/07

Flash Flood Watch now in effect through late tonight, The flash flood watch is now in effect for A portion of southeast texas, Including The Following counties, Austin, Brazoria, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Matagorda, Waller And Wharton. Through late tonight Tropical depression erin will continue to move northwest across south central texas this evening into early Friday morning and will continue to produce bands of showers and thunderstorms across the western gulf of mexico. These rainfall bands will continue to gradually spread inland across the watch area this evening into early Friday morning. Rainfall amounts from now through Friday morning will average between 1 to 3 inches with isolated amounts of 4 to 6 inches possible. The highest rainfall amounts and the greatest risk of flooding is expected over brazoria, Colorado, Jackson, Matagorda, And Wharton counties. A flash flood watch means rapidly rising water or flooding is possible within the watch area. If you are in the watch area, check preparedness requirements, Keep Informed, And Be Ready for quick action if flash flooding is observed or if a warning is issued. Do not drive your vehicle into areas where the water covers the roadway. The water depth may be too great to allow your car to cross safely. Vehicles caught in rising water should be abandoned Quickly. If your vehicle stalls, Abandon It And seek higher ground immediately. Rapidly rising water may engulf your vehicle and its occupants and sweep them away. Move to higher ground. Listen to noaa weather radio or your local media for the later updates on this situation.


Flash Flood Warning

Issued at: 3:00 PM CDT 8/16/07, expires at: 5:15 PM CDT 8/16/07
The NWS in league city has extended the
flash flood warning for: harris county in southeast texas Until 515 pm cdt At 300 pm cdt, scattered showers and thunderstorms continued over harris county mostly to the east of i-45. This area of precipitation was decreasing in coverage and intensity. However, with an estimated 5 to 10 inches of rain having already fallen, there was widespread flooding already occuring that should gradually recede over the next few hours. Areas to the east of i-45 may experience an additional one half to one inch of rain over the next few hours. Flooding is expected in or near, the medical center, san jacinto state park, reliant park, minute maid park, lake houston dam, hobby airport, herman park, ellington field, west university place, south houston, shoreacres, sheldon, pasadena, morgan's point, la porte, jacinto city, houston, highlands, galena park, deer park, channelview, baytown and aldine. A flood watch is in effect until 7:00 pm for the warned area. Please report severe weather to the county sheriff, local police, or department of public safety. They will relay your report to the national weather service. Lat, lon 2959 9538 2959 9500 2970 9493 2996 9517 2992 9558

2010 Atlantic Hurricanes (courtesy of Weatherstreet.com)

NOAA Gulf of Mexico Radar (courtesy of Weatherstreet.com)

NOAA West Atlantic & Caribbean Radar (courtesy of Weatherstreet.com)

NOAA East Atlantic Radar (courtesy of Weatherstreet.com)