Hurricane Hanna batters Texas coast

The brunt of Hanna is taking aim on south Texas.

July 25, 2020, 7:37 PM

5 min read

Hurricane Hanna has strengthened and is sustaining winds of 80 mph. The Category 1 hurricane is moving to the west at 8 mph and the center is currently about 50 miles ENE of Port Mansfield, Texas.

Very heavy rain, strong winds and storm surge are currently impacting the south Texas coast, the worst of it south of Corpus Christi, down along the coast to the mouth of the Rio Grande River. The western eye wall is now along the coast there.

While wind/storm surge are notable impacts along the coast this afternoon, very heavy rain and the potential for widespread flash flooding across the Rio Grande Valley is the biggest concern into tonight. Rainfall totals over extreme southern Texas to the Mexico border could lead to dangerous flash flooding.

A satellite image shows Tropical Storm Hanna as it moves trough the Gulf of Mexico and approaches Texas, July 24, 2020. Tropical Storm Hanna is expected to reach hurricane strength upon making landfall in Texas by nightfall on July 25.

Also, as is usually the case with land-falling tropical systems, isolated tornadoes are possible along the southern Texas coast through this evening.

After landfall, Hanna will begin to rapidly weaken into tonight and Sunday morning. However, it will continue to bring widespread heavy rain and the threat of dangerous flash flooding across the Rio Grande Valley even as the wind speeds go down.

A Hurricane warning remains in effect for Port Mansfield to Mesquite Bay, Texas. A tropical storm warning remains for much of the Texas coast with a storm surge warning from Port Mansfield to Sargent, Texas.

Hanna will likely cross into northern Mexico tomorrow morning and weaken to a depression by later on Sunday.

An excessive amount of rain is forecast for extreme southern Texas, south of Corpus Christi, including Port Mansfield, Brownfield and down along parts of the Rio Grande Valley. Rainfall totals of 6 to 12 inches are expected which could produce widespread flash flooding into tonight.

Isolated rain totals of over a foot are possible into early Sunday as Hanna begins to moves into northern Mexico

A surfer catches a barrel ride, July 24, 2020, as swell waves approach the coast of South Padre Island, Texas, due to Tropical Storm Hanna approaching the Texas Gulf Coast.

Meanwhile near Hawaii, Hurricane Douglas is currently a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds down to 100 mph. It is moving WNW at 18 mph and is currently about 400 miles east of the Big lsland.

Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the Big Island, Maui and Kauai

A hurricane watch is also in effect for the Big Island, Maui, and Oahu (including Honolulu).

This weakening trend will continue as it closes in on Hawaii and Douglas will pass near the islands on Sunday. It will likely pass close enough for heavy rain, strong winds and rough surf creating big waves in at least parts of the state. However, a slight shift in the track could change impact either way.

Douglas will hit the islands as a lower-end Category 1 hurricane. While wind and coastal impact is a concern, heavy rain will occur with several inches possible and the potential for landslides/mudslides.

On the current track, the island of Maui and higher elevations have the greatest chance of bearing the worst impact.

On Saturday, President Trump approved Hawaii’s emergency declaration request in response to Hurricane Douglas. The request allows Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate emergency response efforts.

And a quick update on Gonzalo -- a very disorganized, small, weak system and now a tropical depression: The storm will continue to weaken and dissipate in the Caribbean Sea on Sunday.

Areas of heavy rain and gusty winds will continue to impact some southern Windward Islands through this evening. There could be isolated flash flooding where the heaviest rain falls.

ABc News' Allison Pecorin contributed to this report.

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