Miami, Fla.-(Newsradio 970 WFLA)-Harvey has grown into a hurricane as he continues to move over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Top sustained winds are now up to 85 miles an hour.
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center expect Harvey to grow into a major hurricane before making landfall along the Texas coast Friday night or Saturday morning. Hurricane warnings and watches are up for the area, including the city of Corpus Christi.
Biggest threat from Harvey will be storm surge and flooding from the heavy rain as he comes ashore.
As Harvey moves toward Texas, there's a tropical disturbance moving up from the south. Forecasters say the Tampa Bay area will get some heavy rain out of that system for the next two days. That system is expected move across the state and out into the Atlantic.
The 5 p.m. EDT Advisory, in part:
...HARVEY HEADED TOWARD THE TEXAS COAST... ...LIFE-THREATENING AND DEVASTATING FLOODING EXPECTED NEAR THE COAST DUE TO HEAVY RAINFALL AND STORM SURGE...
SUMMARY OF 400 PM CDT...2100 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...24.7N 93.9W ABOUT 305 MI...490 KM SE OF CORPUS CHRISTI TEXAS ABOUT 300 MI...480 KM SSE OF PORT OCONNOR TEXAS MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...85 MPH...140 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNW OR 330 DEGREES AT 10 MPH...17 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...976 MB...28.82 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
The Hurricane Warning has been extended northeast of Matagorda to Sargent Texas.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for... * Port Mansfield to High Island Texas
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for... * South of Port Mansfield Texas to the Mouth of the Rio Grande
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for... * Port Mansfield to Sargent Texas
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for... * North of Sargent to High Island Texas * South of Port Mansfield Texas to the Mouth of the Rio Grande
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for... * South of Port Mansfield Texas to the Mouth of the Rio Grande
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for... * South of the Mouth of the Rio Grande to Boca de Catan Mexico
A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm- force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life- threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area.
In addition, interests in southwestern Louisiana should continue to monitor the progress of this system.
For storm information specific to your area in the United States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. For storm information specific to your area outside the United States, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service.
Graphic courtesy National Hurricane Center