Alert: Tropical Cyclone Statement issued August 27 at 8:15AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Event: Tropical Cyclone Statement
Sender Name: NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Issued: 2017-08-27T08:15:51-05:00
Expires: 2017-08-27T16:15:00-05:00
Description: This product covers SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS

**Tropical storm Harvey continues to bring a life-threatening and
catastrophic heavy rainfall event east of I-35 and I-37**

NEW INFORMATION
—————

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
– None

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
– A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Atascosa, Bastrop,
Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, De Witt, Fayette, Gonzales, Guadalupe,
Hays, Karnes, Lavaca, and Wilson

* STORM INFORMATION:
– About 90 miles south of Austin TX or about 20 miles
west-southwest of Cuero TX
– 29.0N 97.6W
– Storm Intensity 45 mph
– Movement South-southeast or 160 degrees at 1 mph

SITUATION OVERVIEW
——————

The center of Harvey has moved very little over the last 6 hours.
Currently, the center of the circulation is located south of the I-10
corridor in DeWitt county. The center was analyzed to be moving south-
southeast at 1 mph.

Our long anticipated life-threatening flood event has begun east of
the Interstate 35 corridor as Flash Flood Warnings have been issued.
Over a foot of rain has fallen from Bastrop and Caldwell counties,
southeast to Bay City over the last 48 hours. Multiple water rescues,
road closures, evacuated homes, and stalled vehicles have been
reported across both Bastrop and Caldwell counties.

Additional rainfall totals of 10-15 inches with isolated areas of 20+
inches are still anticipated in these areas, which will likely worsen
the flooding in these already impacted areas. Across Travis County,
including the city of Austin, 2 to 8 inches of rain has fallen in the
last 48 hours with an additional 5 to 10 anticipated through
Wednesday. The city of San Antonio has been bisected by the heavy
rainfall, being on the western extent of the rain shield. Eastern
areas have seen a little over 3 inches of rainfall where western areas
have seen less than an inch. Three to six inches of additional
rainfall is forecast for the city through Wednesday.

Winds will gust to 40-50 mph this morning in the area under the
tropical storm warning. Elsewhere wind gusts will be 30-40 mph.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS
—————–

* FLOODING RAIN:
Potential impacts from the flooding rain are still unfolding across the
flash flood watch area. Remain well guarded against life-threatening
flood waters having additional catastrophic impacts. If realized,
these impacts include:
– Extreme rainfall flooding may prompt numerous evacuations and
rescues.
– Rivers and tributaries may overwhelmingly overflow their banks
in many places with deep moving water. Small streams, creeks,
canals, arroyos, and ditches may become raging rivers. In
mountain areas, deadly runoff may rage down valleys while
increasing susceptibility to rockslides and mudslides. Flood
control systems and barriers may become stressed.
– Flood waters can enter numerous structures within multiple
communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed
away. Numerous places where flood waters may cover escape
routes. Streets and parking lots become rivers of raging water
with underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become very
dangerous. Numerous road and bridge closures with some weakened
or washed out.

Elsewhere across SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS, little to no impact is
anticipated.

* WIND:
Potential impacts from the main wind event are now unfolding across the
tropical storm warning area. Remain well sheltered from hazardous wind
having additional limited impacts. If realized, these impacts include:
– Damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored
mobile homes. Unsecured lightweight objects blown about.
– Many large tree limbs broken off. A few trees snapped or
uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are
shallow rooted. Some fences and roadway signs blown over.
– A few roads impassable from debris, particularly within urban
or heavily wooded places. Hazardous driving conditions on
bridges and other elevated roadways.
– Scattered power and communications outages.

Elsewhere across SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS, little to no impact is
anticipated.

* TORNADOES:
Potential impacts from tornadoes are still unfolding across the area
east of Hwy 77. Remain well braced against a tornado event having
possible limited impacts. If realized, these impacts include:
– The occurrence of isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution
of emergency plans during tropical events.
– A few places may experience tornado damage, along with power
and communications disruptions.
– Locations could realize roofs peeled off buildings, chimneys
toppled, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned,
large tree tops and branches snapped off, shallow-rooted trees
knocked over, moving vehicles blown off roads, and small boats
pulled from moorings.

Elsewhere across SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS, little to no impact is
anticipated.

Instruction: * OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
Now is the time to remain safely sheltered from the storm. Stay inside
and away from windows. Listen for updates and be ready in case you
lose electrical power. Locate your battery powered radio and flashlight
from your Emergency Supplies Kit. Keep these items close.

Continue to keep your cell phone well charged for as long as possible.
If you lose power, use it more sparingly and mainly for personal
emergencies and check-ins. Do not overload communications systems with
idle chatter.

Do not be a thrill seeker or risk your life for senseless photos or
videos. Be wise and avoid becoming another statistic.

Be ready to move to the identified safe room if your home or shelter
begins to fail. Quickly move to an interior room on the lowest floor.
Put as many sturdy walls between you and the storm as you can.
Protect your head and body.

* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
– For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov
– For information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org
– For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org

Link to more Info: http://www.weather.gov
Urgency: Expected
Severity: Moderate
Certainty: Likely
Categories: Met,
Area Description: Fayette; Caldwell; Guadalupe; Atascosa; Blanco; Bastrop; Travis; Wilson; Hays; De Witt; Lee; Kendall; Williamson; Lavaca; Comal; Karnes; Gonzales; Bexar

Message Identifier: NWS-IDP-PROD-2500547
CAP MessageType: Alert
Added note: – Flash Flood Warnings warnings