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Monitoring the Gulf: Tropical Storm Harold | See latest track
Tropical Storm Harold expected to make landfall in South Texas before noon today.
HOUSTON — Tropical Storm Harold expected to make landfall in South Texas before noon today, according to the National Hurricane Center.
If TD #9 becomes a tropical storm, the next name on the list is Harold.
The depression is expected to bring about 3 to 5 inches of rain to South Texas. Some areas could even see as much as 7 inches of rain, NHC reported. A couple of tornadoes are also possible across South Texas on Tuesday.
It is expected that this tropical depression will stay south of Southeast Texas.
A few showers and storms are possible across the area Monday night and Tuesday but totals should remain very low.
There is a Tropical Storm Warning already in effect for South Texas, according to the NHC. Closer to home, there is a Tropical Storm Watch for Matagorda Bay. Strong winds could cause dangerous conditions for boaters.
Beyond this tropical depression, there are three named systems – one tropical depression and two tropical storms – along with a tropical wave in the Eastern Atlantic that the National Hurricane Center is watching. Right now, none of these others pose a threat to the United States.
Tropical Storm Franklin will impact Hispaniola by the middle of the week as a strong tropical storm with winds near 50 mph.
Franklin will drop tons of rain on the island, which may lead to flash flooding and mudslides, especially on the south side of the island as it makes landfall.
The KHOU 11 Weather Team encourages everyone to keep an eye out on the forecast at least once a day through the weekend and next week so you’re not caught off guard just in case something stronger is able to develop.
2023 Atlantic hurricane season predictions
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently doubled the chances of a nasty Atlantic hurricane season this summer and fall.
The agency said there’s a 60% chance for an above-normal hurricane season, twice the agency’s May forecast which said it was 30%. The earlier forecast leaned more toward a near-normal season with a 40%, but the chance for normal has now shrunk to 25%.
Although the NOAA outlook doesn’t forecast storm tracks or what places will get hit, a busy season like the one forecast means “there is a doubling of the chance of a hurricane making landfall on the East Coast of the U.S.,” said Matthew Rosencrans, lead hurricane season forecaster with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.
NOAA is now forecasting between 14 to 21 named storms, which is an increase over forecasters’ initial May forecast of 12 to 17. A normal year has 14 named storms.
Of those named storms, NOAA predicts six to 11 will become hurricanes, which is more than the five to nine predicted in May. Normal is seven hurricanes. Of those hurricanes, NOAA predicts two to five will become major hurricanes with winds of more than 110 mph, which is one more than earlier predictions. A normal year sees three major hurricanes.
Follow the KHOU 11 Weather Team to stay up-to-date on the local forecast and what’s brewing in the tropics: