Hurricane Harvey: Storm Surge, Historical Rains Threaten Texas Coast

At this time, the forecast is for Harvey to make landfall on the Texas Coast on Saturday morning around sunrise near Rockport/Port Aransas as a Category III Hurricane. Sustained winds could be as high as 125 mph with gusts near 145 mph. The Storm Surge north of the center could reach 9-10 ft, if not more.

Harvey intensified into a hurricane Thursday and steered for the Texas coast with the potential for 20–30 inches of torrential rain, 125 mph winds and 12-foot storm surges. It could be the strongest hurricane to hit the United States in almost a dozen years. Most counties along the Texas Gulf Coast have ordered mandatory evacuations.

At this time, the only impact Harvey will have this area will be some heavy rainfall over the southern most sections of East Texas.

Gov. Greg Abbott has activated about 700 members of the National Guard ahead of Hurricane Harvey making landfall on the Texas coast. Military helicopters were on standby in Austin and San Antonio in preparation for search and rescues and emergency evacuations.