Harvey's Heavy Rainfall Expected To Worsen Flood Situation
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HOUSTON (CBSMiami) – Thousands of people in and around Houston have been forced to leave their homes because Tropical Storm Harvey's relentless rains have caused catastrophic flooding.
At 11 p.m., the center of Harvey was 70 miles east of Port O'Connor, Texas.
It was drifting east-southeast at about 3 mph with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph with higher gusts.
But Harvey's winds aren't the problem, it's all the rain.
Catastrophic and life-threatening flooding continues in southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana.
A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for Mesquite Bay to Intracoastal City.
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for Port Bolivar to Morgan City.
Harvey is forecast to continue moving slowly toward the east-southeast, and this motion is expected to continue overnight. A turn toward the northeast and a continued slow forward speed are expected Tuesday and Tuesday night. On the forecast track, the center of Harvey is expected to be just offshore of the middle and upper coasts of Texas through Tuesday night, then move inland over the northwestern Gulf coast on Wednesday.
Harvey is expected to produce 15 to 25 more inches of arain through Friday over the upper Texas coast and into southwestern Louisiana. Isolated storm totals may reach 50 inches over the upper Texas coast, including the Houston/ Galveston metropolitan area. These rains are currently producing catastrophic and life-threatening flooding, and flash flood emergencies are in effect for portions of southeastern Texas.
Elsewhere, Harvey is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 5 to 15 inches farther south into the middle Texas coast, farther west toward the Texas Hill Country, and farther east across south- central Louisiana.
Swells generated by Harvey are affecting the coasts of Texas and Louisiana. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
A few tornadoes are possible today and tonight from the upper Texas coast across parts of southwestern and south-central Louisiana.
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