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Tropical Storm Harvey
Current storm status Tropical storm (1-min mean)
Satellite image Forecast map
As of:	10:00 p.m. CDT August 27 (03:00 UTC August 28)
Location:	28°48′N 96°36′W / 28.8°N 96.6°W / 28.8; -96.6 (Tropical Storm Harvey) ± 15 nm About 20 mi (30 km) E of Victoria About 30 mi (50 km) NNW of Port O'Connor
Sustained winds:	35 kn (40 mph; 65 km/h) (1-min mean) gusting to 45 kn (50 mph; 85 km/h)
Pressure:	1000 mbar (hPa; 29.53 inHg)
Movement:	ESE at 3 kn (3 mph; 6 km/h)
See more detailed information.

Hurricane Harvey is an active tropical cyclone that is causing unprecedented and catastrophic flooding in southeastern Texas. It is the first major hurricane to make landfall in the United States since Wilma in 2005, ending a record 12-year period with no major hurricanes making landfall in the United States. Harvey is also the first hurricane to hit the state of Texas since Ike in 2008, and the strongest to hit the state since Carla in 1961. In addition, it is the strongest hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico since Hurricane Rita in 2005 and the strongest to make landfall in the United States since Hurricane Charley in 2004. It joined Matthew as one of only two U.S. hurricanes to cause an extreme wind warning to be issued, indicating "tornado-like winds" within the storm including isolated tornadoes.

The eighth named storm, third hurricane, and the first major hurricane of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, Harvey developed from a tropical wave to the east of the Lesser Antilles, reaching tropical storm status on August 17. The storm crossed through the Windward Islands on the following day, passing just south of Barbados and later near Saint Vincent. Upon entering the Caribbean Sea, Harvey began to weaken due to moderate wind shear and degenerated into a tropical wave north of Colombia early on August 19. The remnants were monitored for regeneration as it continued west-northwestward across the Caribbean and the Yucatán Peninsula, before redeveloping over the Bay of Campeche on August 23. Harvey then began to rapidly intensify on August 24, regaining tropical storm status and becoming a hurricane later that day. While the storm moved generally northwestwards, Harvey's intensification phase stalled slightly overnight from August 24–25, however Harvey soon resumed strengthening and became a category 4 hurricane late on August 25. Hours later, Harvey made landfall near Rockport, Texas, at peak intensity.

The storm struck a coastline which has seen sea level rise exceeding 6 inches (15 cm) in recent decades, partly due to coastal subsidence caused by oil drilling or other activities, and partly an effect of global warming. Increased regional sea surface temperatures have led to more moisture in the atmosphere, causing more rainfall, and have contributed to the strength of the storm. Harvey has caused at least eight confirmed deaths; one in Guyana, and seven in the United States. Catastrophic inland flooding is ongoing in the Greater Houston area. The FEMA director Brock Long called Harvey "the worst disaster" in Texas history, and expected the recovery to take "many years."

Meteorological history

Early on August 13, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began monitoring a tropical wave on the western coast of Africa. Amid favorable environmental conditions, the wave was expected to merge with a broad area of low pressure southwest of Cape Verde and gradually organize thereafter. Instead, the two disturbances remained separate and a broad trough of low pressure continued westward. On August 17, shower and thunderstorm activity in association with the disturbance began to show signs of organization, while high-resolution satellite showed an increasingly defined low-level circulation. As such, the NHC initiated advisories on a potential tropical cyclone, allowing tropical storm watches and warnings to be hoisted for portions of the Lesser Antilles. An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft deployed to the disturbance later that afternoon found a well-defined center and tropical storm-force winds, prompting the NHC to upgrade it to Tropical Storm Harvey at 21:00 UTC.

Following its designation, the cyclone moved swiftly westward into the Caribbean Sea under the influence of an expansive ridge of high pressure to its north. An environment of moderate wind shear complicated the forecast of the storm's intensity, with global forecast models suggesting dissipation in the central Caribbean, whereas statistical and hurricane models suggested the potential for Harvey to be near hurricane strength in later days. Over the next day, the storm changed little in structure, remaining poorly organized with its low-level center on the eastern edge of associated deep convection. Harvey's presentation began to deteriorate early on August 19; its convective pattern became elongated while the circulation became less defined. In fact, a reconnaissance aircraft was unable to find a loosely-closed circulation at 850 mb (4,781 ft), though it did locate one at lower levels. Harvey was downgraded to a tropical depression at 21:00 UTC on August 19; six hours later, based on continued data from a reconnaissance aircraft, it was declared an open tropical wave.

Early on August 20, the NHC began monitoring the remnants of Harvey for redevelopment. Although the effects of strong upper-level winds and dry air were expected to limit development in the near-term, conditions were expected to become more conducive to tropical storm and hurricane conditions when the disturbance entered the northwestern Caribbean Sea, and especially in the Bay of Campeche. Despite an increase in convective organization, the disturbance still lacked a well-defined center as it approached the Yucatán Peninsula. While traversing inland, satellite images and surface observations indicated that the circulation became better defined. A reconnaissance aircraft investigating the remnants of Harvey around 15:00 UTC on August 23 indicated that it once again acquired a well-defined center, and the NHC upgraded it to a tropical depression accordingly. The system began to slowly consolidate amid an increasingly favorable environment, attaining tropical storm intensity by 06:00 UTC on August 24.

Later that morning, Harvey began to undergo rapid intensification as an eye developed and its central pressure quickly fell. By 17:00 UTC, the storm was upgraded to the third hurricane of the season. Slight entrainment of dry air slowed the intensification process, however, by the next day, Harvey was able to quickly strengthen into a major hurricane by 19:00 UTC. Further deepening occurred as the storm approached the coast of Texas, with Harvey becoming a category 4 hurricane at 23:00 UTC, based on reconnaissance aircraft data. Around 03:00 UTC on August 26, the hurricane made landfall at peak intensity at Rockport with winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and an atmospheric pressure of 938 mbar (27.7 inHg). Harvey became the first major hurricane to make landfall in the United States since Wilma in 2005 and the strongest in terms of wind speed to hit the country since Charley in 2004. It was the first hurricane to strike Texas since Ike in 2008, the first major hurricane in the state since Bret in 1999, and the strongest in Texas since Carla in 1961.

After striking land, the storm moved over the Copano Bay and made a second landfall in Texas just north of Holiday Beach at 06:00 UTC on August 26 as a category 3 hurricane. About two hours later, Harvey decreased to a category 2 intensity, before weakening to a category 1 hurricane around 10:00 UTC. At 18:00 UTC on August 26, the NHC downgraded Harvey to a tropical storm.

Current storm information

As of 10:00 p.m. CDT August 27 (03:00 UTC August 28), Tropical Storm Harvey is located within 15 nautical miles of 28°48′N 96°36′W / 28.8°N 96.6°W / 28.8; -96.6 (Harvey), about 20 miles (30 km) east of Victoria, Texas, and about 30 miles (50 km) north-northwest of Port O'Connor, Texas. Maximum sustained winds are 35 knots (40 mph; 65 km/h), with gusts to 45 knots (50 mph; 85 km/h). The minimum barometric pressure is 1000 millibars (hPa; 29.53 inHg). The system is moving east-southeast at 3 knots (3 mph; 6 km/h). Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km), primarily over water to the east of the center of Harvey.

For latest official information, see:

• The NHC's latest public advisory on Hurricane Harvey
• The NHC's latest forecast advisory on Hurricane Harvey
• The NHC's latest forecast discussion on Hurricane Harvey

Watches and warnings

Template:HurricaneWarningsTable

Preparations and impact

Warnings include stalling of the storm after landfall and heavy deluging flooding taking place; impacts may last for days.

Eastern Caribbean

Tropical cyclone warnings and watches for the Windward Islands were issued starting at 15:00 UTC on August 17, about six hours before Harvey developed. At that time, a tropical storm watch was posted for Dominica, while a tropical storm warning became in effect in Barbados, Martinique, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. All watches and warnings were discontinued by late on August 18, as the storm continued westward into the Caribbean.

Winds left residents throughout Barbados without electricity, with a majority of outages occurring in Christ Church, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, and Saint Michael provinces. Flooding washed one house off its foundation, while water entered some houses, forcing some people to evacuate. Bridges in Saint Andrew and Saint Joseph were damaged. Additionally, a fuel depot in Speightstown was flooded. Winds deroofed a church. In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, nine homes were flooded and four others experienced wind damage. Additionally, a tree fell on a school, damaging the building. Blocked drains in Port Elizabeth resulted in more than 15 businesses being flooded. A total of 15 people were housed in shelters after the storm.

Strong winds and heavy rainfall also affected Suriname and Guyana. In the former, high winds in the capital city of Paramaribo caused roof damage to the Presidential Palace and two homes, while the Torarica Hotel and Casino suffered structural impact. Additionally, four dwellings were deroofed in Commewijne and three others lost their roofs in Wanica; in the latter, the Ministry of Social Affairs building was damaged by falling trees. In Guyana, the village of Jawalla bore the brunt of the storm. Four homes were demolished, while five other residences and two shops were damaged. Several public buildings were also damaged, including the community center, the village council buildings, the nursery, and public schools. A 29-year-old woman died after her house collapsed on her.

United States

President Donald Trump remained in contact with Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, and received a briefing from acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke, Homeland Security Advisor Tom Bossert, White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Brock Long. FEMA worked with the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to prepare for the storm and its aftermath. The agency placed disaster response teams on standby at emergency posts in Austin, Texas, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Trump has also announced plans to visit flood zones on August 29.

• Comments from the White House (begin at 25:50)
• Comments from National Weather Service director Louis Uccellini
• Shelter in place briefing by FEMA
• Comments on evacuations in Galveston, Texas, by Mayor James Yarbrough Comments on evacuations in Galveston, Texas, by Mayor James Yarbrough
• Comments by the Governor of Texas

Texas

Upon the NHC resuming advisories for Harvey at 15:00 UTC on August 23, a hurricane watch was issued in Texas from Port Mansfield to San Luis Pass, while a tropical storm watch was posted from Port Mansfield south to the mouth of the Rio Grande and from San Luis Pass to High Island. Additionally, a storm surge watch became in effect from Port Mansfield to High Island.

Governor Greg Abbott declared a state of emergency for 30 counties on August 23, while mandatory evacuations were issued for Brazoria, Calhoun, Jackson, Refugio, San Patricio, and Victoria counties, as well as parts of Matagorda County. On August 26, Governor Abbott added an additional 20 counties to the state of emergency declaration.

It was reported that at least part of Rockport-Fulton High School in Rockport collapsed with people inside. A Fairfield Inn in the city was severely damaged, forcing 128 people to evacuate. One person died in a house fire in the city, unable to be rescued due to the extreme weather conditions. By the afternoon of August 26, more than 20 in (510 mm) of rain had fallen in the Corpus Christi metropolitan area.

In the Greater Houston/Southeast Texas region, an estimated 9 trillion gallons (34 km) of rain had fallen by the afternoon of August 27, more than any documented tropical system in U.S. history. An additional 5 to 10 trillion gallons (19 to 38 km) are expected before the storm dissipates. Several locations in the metro area observed at least 20 in (510 mm) of precipitation, including 27.45 in (697 mm) near Dayton. The local National Weather Service office in Houston observed consecutive all-time daily rainfall accumulations on August 26 and 27, measured at 14.4 in (370 mm) and 16.08 in (408 mm) respectively. Locally, some areas may receive as much as 50 in (1,300 mm) of rain. During the storm, more than 800 Houston area flights were canceled, including 704 at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and 123 at William P. Hobby Airport. Both airports eventually closed. Several tornadoes were spawned in the area, one of which damaged or destroyed the roofs of dozens of homes in Sienna Plantation. As of August 27, six fatalities have been confirmed from flooding in the Houston area.

Late on August 27, a mandatory evacuation was issued for all of Bay City as model projections indicated the downtown area would be inundated by 10 ft (3.0 m) of water. Flooding was anticipated to cutoff access to the city around 1:00 p.m. CDT on August 28.

Throughout Texas, more than 300,000 people were left without electricity and billions of dollars of property damage was sustained.

Louisiana

In Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency for the entire state. A mandatory evacuation was ordered in Cameron Parish for the cities of Big Lake, Cameron, Creole, Grand Chenier, Hackberry, Holly Beach, and Johnson Bayou. Additionally, a voluntary evacuation was ordered in Vermilion Parish for low-lying areas south of State Highway 14. The Louisiana National Guard prepared about 500,000 sandbags and emergency boats and high-water-rescue vehicles were placed on standby should flooding occur. In New Orleans, there were concerns about whether or not the city's drainage system could handle a heavy rainfall event, with only 105 of the 120 water pumps being operational and some power turbines being out of service.

Mississippi

In Mississippi, the National Weather Service issued a Hydrologic Outlook for heavy rain and flooding, in the far southern part of the state.

Florida

In Florida, swells from Harvey resulted in a rip current statement being issued along the coast of the Florida Panhandle from Port St. Joe to Miramar Beach.

See also

• List of Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes
• Tropical Storm Allison - Caused significant flooding across same region of Texas Gulf coast, 13th costliest tropical cyclone in US history

Other tropical cyclones with landfall in the same region of the Texas Gulf coast:

• 1886 Indianola hurricane
• 1900 Galveston hurricane
• 1932 Freeport hurricane
• Hurricane Bret (1999)
• Hurricane Celia (1970)

Notes

1. A major hurricane is a hurricane that ranks as category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson scale.

References

1. Jason Samenow; Angela Fritz; Matthew Cappucci (August 26, 2017). "Harvey unloading incredible rains over Southeast Texas; Flash flood emergency in Houston". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
2. Mann, Michael E (August 28, 2017). "It's a fact: climate change made Hurricane Harvey more deadly". the Guardian. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
3. Joel Achenbach (August 27, 2017). "FEMA director says Harvey is probably the worst disaster in Texas history". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
4. Stacy R. Stewart (August 13, 2017). "Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
5. Robbie J. Berg (August 15, 2017). "Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
6. John P. Cangialosi (August 17, 2017). "Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
7. John L. Beven II (August 17, 2017). Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine Discussion Number 1 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
8. ^ John L. Beven II (August 17, 2017). Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine Public Advisory Number 1 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
9. ^ John L. Beven II (August 17, 2017). Tropical Storm Harvey Discussion Number 2 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
10. John L. Beven II (August 18, 2017). Tropical Storm Harvey Discussion Number 6 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center.
11. John L. Beven II (August 19, 2017). Tropical Storm Harvey Discussion Number 9 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center.
12. John L. Beven II (August 19, 2017). Tropical Depression Harvey Discussion Number 10 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
13. Robbie J. Berg (August 19, 2017). Remnants of Harvey Discussion Number 11 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
14. Daniel P. Brown (August 20, 2017). "Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
15. Richard J. Pasch; Robbie J. Berg (August 20, 2017). "Special Tropical Weather Outlook". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
16. Eric S. Blake (August 22, 2017). "Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
17. Eric S. Blake (August 23, 2017). Tropical Depression Harvey Discussion Number 12 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
18. John L. Beven II (August 23, 2017). Tropical Depression Harvey Discussion Number 14 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
19. Lixion A. Avila (August 24, 2017). Tropical Storm Harvey Intermediate Advisory Number 14A (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
20. Robbie J. Berg (August 23, 2017). Tropical Storm Harvey Discussion Number 16 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
21. Robbie J. Berg; Michael J. Brennan (August 24, 2017). Hurricane Harvey Tropical Cyclone Update (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
22. John L. Beven II (August 25, 2017). Hurricane Harvey Tropical Cyclone Update (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
23. Eric S. Blake (August 25, 2017). Hurricane Harvey Tropical Cyclone Update (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
24. John L. Beven II (August 26, 2017). Hurricane Harvey Advisory Number 23 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
25. Brian McNoldy (August 25, 2017). "Harvey will probably make landfall as a 'major' hurricane. Here's what that means". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
26. Mark Osborne and Morgan Winsor (August 25, 2017). "Hurricane Harvey makes landfall in Texas as Category 4 storm". ABC News. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
27. Robbie J. Berg (August 26, 2017). Hurricane Harvey Intermediate Advisory Number 23A (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
28. David A. Zelinksy (August 26, 2017). Hurricane Harvey Tropical Cyclone Update (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
29. David A. Zelinksy (August 26, 2017). Hurricane Harvey Tropical Cyclone Update (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
30. Lixion A. Avila (August 26, 2017). Tropical Storm Harvey Intermediate Advisory Number 25A (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
31. "Houston area copes with flooding as Harvey delivers pounding rainfall". CNN. August 27, 2017.
32. John L. Beven II (August 18, 2017). Tropical Storm Harvey Intermediate Advisory Number 5A (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
33. CDEMA Situation Report #1 - Tropical Storm Harvey - as of 4:00pm on August 18th, 2017. ReliefWeb (Report). Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency. August 18, 2017. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
34. ^ GUYANA: Emergency Situation at Jawalla Village, Region 7. ReliefWeb (Report). Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency. August 22, 2017. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
35. Nicholas Fandos (August 25, 2017). "Trump Administration Prepares for Hurricane Harvey". The New York Times. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
36. ^ Eliott C. McLaughlin; Ralph Ellis; Joe Sterling. "Harvey's rain 'beyond anything experienced,' weather service says". CNN. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
37. Eric S. Blake (August 23, 2017). Tropical Depression Harvey Advisory Number 12 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
38. ^ M. L. Nestel (August 25, 2017). "Harvey expected to make landfall as a major hurricane". ABC News. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
39. ^ Tom Dart; Edward Helmore (August 26, 2017). "Hurricane Harvey: at least one dead in Texas as storm moves inland". The Guardian. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
40. Jessica McBride (August 25, 2017). "Rockport, Texas High School Collapse From Hurricane Harvey: Report". Heavy.com. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
41. Sean Breslin and Pam Wright (August 26, 2017). "Hurricane Harvey Update: More Than 100 Evacuated from Damaged Rockport Hotel: Tens of Thousands Without Power". The Weather Channel. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
42. Phil McCausland; Daniel Arkin; Kurt Chirbas (August 27, 2017). "Hurricane Harvey: At Least 2 Dead After Storm Hits Texas Coast". NBC News. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
43. ^ "Texas flood disaster: Harvey has unloaded 9 trillion gallons of water". The Washington Post. August 27, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
44. Kwan-Yin Kong (August 27, 2017). Storm Summary Number 7 for Tropical Storm Harvey Rainfall and Wind (Report). College Park, Maryland: Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
45. National Weather Service Office in Houston, Texas (August 28, 2017). "After checking the rain gauge, a new daily rainfall record was set at the NWS Office of 16.08" beating yesterday's record of 14.40" #houwx" (Tweet). Retrieved August 28, 2017 – via Twitter.
46. Brenda Burr (August 28, 2017). "10 foot floods expected, evacuate by 1 p.m. today officials say". Bay City Tribune. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
47. James Crugnale (August 25, 2017). "Hurricane Harvey: Louisiana Gov. Urges Residents to Remain Vigilant as Storm Strikes Texas". The Weather Channel. Retrieved August 26, 2017.

External links

• Hurricane Harvey Advisory Archive

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