Tropical Storm Hanna develops overnight as Gonzalo churns in Atlantic, forecasts show
Tropical Storm Hanna is expected to bring heavy rains and flooding to portions of the Gulf Coast this weekend as it continues churning toward Texas, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The system, which strengthened to a storm overnight, is trekking west-northwest at 9 mph with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, forecasts show. A tropical storm warning is in effect for much of the Texas coast, which could feel tropical storm-force winds by Friday afternoon.
Though the Lone Star State will bear the brunt of the storm, heavy rain with the risk of “gusty winds, dangerous lightning and localized flooding” is expected along the southern Mississippi and Louisiana coastlines, the National Weather Service said.
On Friday, Harrison County issued a Coastal Flood Advisory that will remain in effect until 7 p.m.
Parts of the region could see 4-8 inches of rain in the coming days with “isolated maximum totals of 12 inches” for southern Texas specifically, according to forecasts.
“Hanna continues to maintain its strength,” the weather service said in a Friday morning update. “Some steady strengthening is possible as this system continues to the west-northwest before” making landfall in Texas this weekend.
Tropical Storm Gonzalo brings ‘life-threatening’ flood risk
Forecasters are also watching Tropical Storm Gonzalo, which continues to creep toward the southern Windward Islands.
As of Friday, the storm is moving west at 15 mph with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. Tropical storm-force winds are expected in the region by early Saturday, forecasts show.
Dangerous tropical storm conditions are also expected. The biggest hazard? Heavy rain that has the potential to cause “life-threatening flash floods,” according to the National Hurricane Center.
In a Friday update, forecasters said the storm could “produce total rain accumulations of 2 to 5 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of 7 inches in Barbados and the Windward Islands tonight through Sunday.”
This story was originally published July 24, 2020 at 10:36 AM.