Hurricane Hanna is going to make landfall into the south Texas Gulf Coast today, bringing life-threatening storm surge, flooding rains, and damaging winds to the Lone Star State.
As of the latest update from the Miami-based National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Hanna was located at 27.1 N 96.3 W which is roughly 75 miles east north east of Port Mansfield, Texas and 85 miles southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas. Now with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, the storm is moving to the west at 7 mph. Minimum central pressure is at 978 mb or 28.88 inches.
While a Tropical Storm Warning has been dropped for locations north of Sargent, Texas, a variety of other warnings remain. A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for Port Mansfield to Mesquite Bay in Texas; a Hurricane Warning is in effect here too. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Barra el Mezquital, Mexico to Port Mansfield, Texas and from Mesquite Bay to Sargent, Texas.
A Storm Surge Warning means there is danger of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the coastline during the next 24 hours. 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. The National Hurricane Center is urging that people promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials in this area.
Hurricane and Tropical Storm Warnings mean that those conditions are expected within 12 hours in the warning location.
The National Hurricane Center believes Hanna could strengthen more prior to landfall; Hanna could be a Category 2 hurricane at landfall. After landfall, the storm will rapidly weaken.
Life-threatening storm surge is already occuring along portions of the Texas coast now from Port Mansfield to Sargent.
Hanna is expected to produce flooding, heavy rains across portions of southern Texas and northeast Mexico. These rains could result in life-threatening flash flooding and isolated minor to moderate river flooding. 10-15″ of rain is possible from this hurricane.
