Hurricane Humberto makes Texas landfall

[Fig]

The eight storm of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, Humberto is slowly and steadily approaching Houston.

It is expected to make landfall sometime during the night. Tropical storm force winds have already been measured at the Galveston piers.

Humberto is presently a Tropical Storm with 55 knots winds. It could potentially strengthen some more, perhaps even into a category 1 hurricane, before landfall, although that is not extremely likely.

The primary threat, however, is from heavy rainfalls. Humberto is a very slow-moving tropical system, and could potentially cause major flooding in or around Houston.

For hurricane watchers, of course, the big question is : will Humberto make C-1 and break the curse of 2007, or remain a tropical storm and maintain the perfect score of 0 non-category-five hurricanes?

 

[Fig]

Humberto's wind reached a significant 85MPH in the last hours prior to landfall, making it a category 1 hurricane (and the first non-category-5 hurricane of 2007. About time!)

It has now made landfall on the coast of Texas, east of Houston.

Most of the hurricane-level conditions where to the north-east of the eyes, and therefore away from Houston, and closer to Port Arthur.

Tropical Storm conditions, however, are expected to spread 60 miles from the eyes in most directions, therefore including Houston.

Given the already rain-saturated state of much of Texas; the very slow speed of Humberto, and the intense amount of rain the storm produces, catastrophic flash floods are a distinct possibility.

 

[The Big Al]

Shucking fit this thing wasn't even supposed to make 'cane. But flooding will likely be its weapon of choice in terms of causing damage.

 

[Fig]

For shits and giggles, from the latest discussion :

BASED ON OPERATIONAL ESTIMATES...HUMBERTO STRENGTHENED FROM A 30 KT
DEPRESSION AT 15Z YESTERDAY TO A 75 KT HURRICANE AT 09Z THIS
MORNING...AN INCREASE OF 45 KT IN 18 HOURS. TO PUT THIS
DEVELOPMENT IN PERSPECTIVE...NO TROPICAL CYCLONE IN THE HISTORICAL
RECORD HAS EVER REACHED THIS INTENSITY AT A FASTER RATE NEAR
LANDFALL. IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW...SOMEDAY...WHY THIS HAPPENED.

In the more sobering department, comments by Jeff Masters :

"If Humberto had had another 12-24 hours over water, it could have been a major hurricane that would have hit without enough time to evacuate those at risk."

In less good news, media reports 112 000 customers without power, and one death at least.