Tropical Storm Harold Hits Texas, Bringing Heavy Rain and Flooding

Tropical Storm Rolls Ashore In Texas With Heavy Rains

Another tropical storm, Hilary, lashed the West Coast over the weekend. Of the three other storms to form since Sunday, only Franklin was expected to remain a threat to land into Tuesday, with tropical storm warnings issued for the southern coasts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Harold had sustained winds near 45 miles per hour, with higher gusts, the Hurricane Center said. Tropical disturbances that have sustained winds of 39 m.p.h. earn a name. Once winds reach 74 m.p.h., a storm becomes a hurricane, and at 111 m.p.h. it becomes a major hurricane.

The Atlantic hurricane season started on June 1 and runs through Nov. 30.

The National Weather Service released the storm names for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, which started June 1 and runs through Nov. 30. Atlantic hurricanes are named according to six rotating alphabetical lists. Here are the new hurricane names:

– Arlene
– Bret
– Cindy
– Don
– Emily
– Franklin
– Gert
– Harvey
– Irma
– Jose
– Katia
– Lee
– Maria
– Nate
– Ophelia
– Philippe
– Rina
– Sean
– Tammy
– Vince
– Whitney

In late May, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted that there would be 12 to 17 named storms this year, a “near-normal” amount. On Aug. 10, NOAA officials revised their estimate upward, to 14 to 21 storms.

There were 14 named storms last year, after two extremely busy Atlantic hurricane seasons in which forecasters ran out of names and had to resort to backup lists. This year features an El Niño pattern, which arrived in June. The intermittent climate phenomenon can have wide-ranging effects on weather around the world, and it typically impedes the number of Atlantic hurricanes.

In the Atlantic, El Niño increases the amount of wind shear, or the change in wind speed and direction from the ocean or land surface into the atmosphere. Hurricanes need a calm environment to form, and the instability caused by increased wind shear makes those conditions less likely. At the same time, this year’s heightened sea surface temperatures pose a number of threats, including the ability to supercharge storms.

That unusual confluence of factors has made solid storm predictions more difficult. There is solid consensus among scientists that hurricanes are becoming more powerful because of climate change. Although there might not be more named storms overall, the likelihood of major hurricanes is increasing.

Climate change is also affecting the amount of rain that storms can produce. In a warming world, the air can hold more moisture, which means a named storm can hold and produce more rainfall, like Hurricane Harvey did in Texas in 2017, when some areas received more than 40 inches of rain in less than 48 hours.

The impact of these storms on power supply is significant. PowerOutage.us reports the share of customers without power by county. Counties shown are those with at least 1 percent of customers without power.

As the hurricane season continues, it is important for residents in affected areas to stay informed and prepared for potential storms.

How many storms have formed so far in this hurricane season?

Making landfall this hurricane season, with 5 to 8 of them becoming hurricanes. So far, the season has been fairly active, with multiple storms forming in a short period of time.

One of the latest storms to roll ashore was Tropical Storm Harold, which hit Texas with heavy rains. The storm had sustained winds near 45 miles per hour, with higher gusts. While not a major hurricane, Harold still posed a threat to coastal areas.

In addition to Harold, there were three other storms that formed since Sunday. However, only one of them, Tropical Storm Franklin, was expected to remain a threat to land into Tuesday. Tropical storm warnings were issued for the southern coasts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

The Atlantic hurricane season started on June 1 and runs through November 30. This means that we are still in the midst of the peak season, and more storms could form in the coming months. It is important for residents in hurricane-prone areas to stay informed and be prepared for any potential storms.

The National Weather Service has already released the storm names for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. These names are used according to six rotating alphabetical lists. Some of the names on this year’s list include Arlene, Cindy, Franklin, Harvey, Irma, Jose, and Maria. Familiarizing yourself with these names can help you stay informed during the season.

Before the start of the season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted an above-average hurricane season, with 12 to 17 named storms expected to make landfall. As we continue to monitor the progress of each storm, it is important to stay updated on any potential risks and take appropriate precautions to ensure safety.