Hanna Strengthening as it Approaches the Texas Coast; Hurricane Conditions Likely across Much of the South Texas Coast
Tropical Storm Hanna has continued to strengthen today as it moves westward toward the Texas coast, and is now forecast to be a hurricane by the time it makes landfall tomorrow evening. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been conducting aerial reconnaissance into Tropical Storm Hanna today, providing important data regarding the structure and intensity of the storm. The mission data clearly indicates that the storm is strengthening and becoming better organized, and may be well on its way to becoming a hurricane tomorrow morning as it continues its approach to the Texas coast. Tropical storm and Hurricane warnings are currently in effect for much of the Texas coastline, with Storm Surge watches and warnings in accompaniment. Hanna is expected to bring dangerous tropical storm and hurricane conditions to much of the Texas coast, and conditions are expected to deteriorate along the coastline overnight.
Tropical Storm Hanna: Latest Storm Information
As of the National Hurricane Center’s most recent advisory on Hanna at 11:00 PM EDT (03:00 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Hanna was located near 27.0°N, 95.3°W, about 140 mi (225 km) east-southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas, and about 130 mi (215 km) east-northeast of Port Mansfield, Texas. Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph (100 km/h) with gusts to 75 mph (120 km/h), the minimum central pressure is 992 mb (29.29 inches), and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 mi (130 km) from the center. Hanna is moving toward the west at around 8 mph (13 km/h), and this general motion should continue through tonight, followed by a turn to the west-southwest, a motion which should continue through Sunday. On the forecast track, the center of Hanna should make landfall along the Texas coast somewhere within the hurricane warning area this evening. Hanna is expected to continue to strengthen, and become a hurricane before it makes landfall. Afterward, rapid weakening should occur after Hanna moves inland, and it is expected to dissipate over northern Mexico by Monday morning. While not explicitly forecast, Hanna could strengthen a little more than indicated in the 18-24 hours or so leading up to landfall.
External Links
Please refer to the National Hurricane Center and National Weather Service websites for further information regarding Tropical Storm Hanna as well as watches and warnings in effect. Force Thirteen will be providing live coverage on Hanna today and until conditions warrant, as well Tropical Storm Gonzalo and Central Pacific Hurricane Douglas. More information can be found at Force Thirteen’s official outlets, including its Twitter and Facebook pages.
