Hurricane Harvey: 2017 Central Texas Coast

[Bart_Comstock]

Haha, I've had that happen a few times. It is fun.

 

[Steve Miller]

"The National Weather Service confirmed Wednesday that a record 64.58 inches of rain fell during Hurricane Harvey in Nederland near Beaumont during the storm’s five-day onslaught.

The city’s record rainfall is the heaviest rainfall ever logged in the U.S. during a tropical storm, breaking Hawaii's 1950 record of 52 inches. The record was captured near Jack Brooks Regional Airport."

http://www.chron.com/about/article/Weather-service-confirms-64-inches-of-rain-fell-12233072.php

 

[cdcollura]

Good day all,

Sorry for the late reply. This is my chase log for hurricane Harvey in Texas. Details are below...

Summary: This area shows pictures taken from the interception and observation of powerful category-four hurricane Harvey in southeastern Texas from its devastating landfall point in Aransas County near Fulton and Rockport, and the subsequent catastrophic flooding event as the storm moved inland and weakened to a tropical storm west of Houston. This storm, was the first major hurricane (with sustained 130-MPH at the first landfall) to strike the United States in 12 years. This devastating storm began originally began as a tropical disturbance that moved off Africa and moved across the tropical Atlantic. The disturbance became a tropical storm in the eastern Caribbean, but weakened to a remnant low as it reached the Yucatan area of Mexico. The low pressure area crossed into the Bay of Campeche, and SW Gulf of Mexico around the 22nd of August. The dry air and wind shear, plaguing tropical development in the Atlantic for so long, relaxed and the storm began re-organizing in an area highly favorable for intensification, with an area of high oceanic heat content associated with a warm gyre in the Gulf of Mexico loop current. On August 24th and 25th, the storm went from a tropical depression to a storm, then a hurricane in a mere 24 hours, with rapid - or even explosive - intensification. This storm steadily and rapidly intensified into a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, packing 130 MPH winds and a central pressure as low as 938 MB at the time of landfall near Rockport, Texas late on the 25th. This produced catastrophic wind damage in some areas, mainly near and right of the first landfall point near Rockport and Fulton, and extending to near Tivoli. Severe flooding (from both violent rain and storm surge) also occurred in these areas. After landfall, the storm weakened inland to a tropical storm over the next few days, from Aug 26th to the 29th, but stalled and moved slowly west of Houston. This placed Houston on the right side of the storm, with training rains and severe (even tornadic) thunderstorms. At least 50 inches of rain fell in these areas near Houston, causing the worst flooding "in a 1,000 years"! The storm re-emerged into the Gulf of Mexico on the 28th, and did not start moving NE until the 29th, leaving "legendary" flooding and a swath of wind damage in its path. Eventually, the storm moved ashore again, with 50 MPH winds, and weakened inland thereafter on August 30. The second part of the chase was in the Houston area, with cancelled flights out of Houston, observing the flooding. I "evacuated" the area on Aug 28th to Dallas, flying back to Florida from there on the morning of the 29th. The chase began by flying into Houston on the 24th and driving to the target areas for the first landfall. The total mileage was 1,015 miles.



This is a picture taken from inside the eye of hurricane "Harvey" as it was making landfall in the Rockport / Fulton area during the night of August 25, 2017. The view is looking up from the parking lot of the Marriott hotel. A clear area opens up overhead, with stars visible overhead, in complete calm conditions. The eyewall presented a "stadium effect" around us, illuminated by lightning, with birds trapped in the eye circling overhead. Pressure measured by one chaser (Josh Morgerman) was 940.8 MB around this time. Winds sustained at 130 MPH, gusting over 145, are circling around us (with an audible "roar") while in this "oasis" of deceptively calm weather. This will be the only "clear sky" we will see in almost a week!



These are two images showing hurricane Harvey making landfall near Rockport, Texas late on August 25, 2017 with sustained winds of 130 MPH (category 4). To the left is a visible satellite image of the storm as it is about to make landfall in Aransas County between Tivoli and Corpus Christi with an incredible presentation of the eye and eyewall of the storm. To the right is an image of the base-reflectivity radar (out of Corpus Christi) image of the storm eye and eyewall over Rockport and Fulton with my location (cross hairs) inside the eye as well as other storm chasers (red dots)!

Full video of Hurricane Harvey is below...

Pictures are below...



Above: Wave and wind action between Estes and Port Aransas, Texas as the gale forced wind envelope arrives during the afternoon of August 25, 2017.



Above: Eyewall of Harvey hits Rockport / Fulton after dark just before power failure during the evening of the 25th. Winds here gusting over 120 MPH.



Above: View of damage to the building from the 4th floor just before entry into the eye of Harvey during the late evening of August 25th in 140+ MPH wind gusts. Basically, the hallway ends and "drops off" 4 stories into "nothing". The building was shaking at this point, making for a very uneasy feeling.



Above: Severe flooding and damage near Fulton, Texas on August 26th.



Above: This is a terrifying view of I-45 northbound near Spring, Texas late on August 28th with raging flood waters rising and going from left (the southbound lanes) to right (my northbound lanes) and spilling over the centre median barrier. The water level to the left of the barrier is high and over-topping the 4 foot barrier. This is an EXTREMELY DANGEROUS attempt to go north and get out of the Houston area. On my side, the water is about 6 inches deep, but swiftly rushing across the lanes. An overflowing dam caused this part of the violent flood in the area.

 

[Kevin R Burgess]

Good day all,

Sorry for the late reply. This is my chase log for hurricane Harvey in Texas. Details are below...

Summary: This area shows pictures taken from the interception and observation of powerful category-four hurricane Harvey in southeastern Texas from its devastating landfall point in Aransas County near Fulton and Rockport, and the subsequent catastrophic flooding event as the storm moved inland and weakened to a tropical storm west of Houston. This storm, was the first major hurricane (with sustained 130-MPH at the first landfall) to strike the United States in 12 years. This devastating storm began originally began as a tropical disturbance that moved off Africa and moved across the tropical Atlantic. The disturbance became a tropical storm in the eastern Caribbean, but weakened to a remnant low as it reached the Yucatan area of Mexico. The low pressure area crossed into the Bay of Campeche, and SW Gulf of Mexico around the 22nd of August. The dry air and wind shear, plaguing tropical development in the Atlantic for so long, relaxed and the storm began re-organizing in an area highly favorable for intensification, with an area of high oceanic heat content associated with a warm gyre in the Gulf of Mexico loop current. On August 24th and 25th, the storm went from a tropical depression to a storm, then a hurricane in a mere 24 hours, with rapid - or even explosive - intensification. This storm steadily and rapidly intensified into a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, packing 130 MPH winds and a central pressure as low as 938 MB at the time of landfall near Rockport, Texas late on the 25th. This produced catastrophic wind damage in some areas, mainly near and right of the first landfall point near Rockport and Fulton, and extending to near Tivoli. Severe flooding (from both violent rain and storm surge) also occurred in these areas. After landfall, the storm weakened inland to a tropical storm over the next few days, from Aug 26th to the 29th, but stalled and moved slowly west of Houston. This placed Houston on the right side of the storm, with training rains and severe (even tornadic) thunderstorms. At least 50 inches of rain fell in these areas near Houston, causing the worst flooding "in a 1,000 years"! The storm re-emerged into the Gulf of Mexico on the 28th, and did not start moving NE until the 29th, leaving "legendary" flooding and a swath of wind damage in its path. Eventually, the storm moved ashore again, with 50 MPH winds, and weakened inland thereafter on August 30. The second part of the chase was in the Houston area, with cancelled flights out of Houston, observing the flooding. I "evacuated" the area on Aug 28th to Dallas, flying back to Florida from there on the morning of the 29th. The chase began by flying into Houston on the 24th and driving to the target areas for the first landfall. The total mileage was 1,015 miles.

View attachment 16488

This is a picture taken from inside the eye of hurricane "Harvey" as it was making landfall in the Rockport / Fulton area during the night of August 25, 2017. The view is looking up from the parking lot of the Marriott hotel. A clear area opens up overhead, with stars visible overhead, in complete calm conditions. The eyewall presented a "stadium effect" around us, illuminated by lightning, with birds trapped in the eye circling overhead. Pressure measured by one chaser (Josh Morgerman) was 940.8 MB around this time. Winds sustained at 130 MPH, gusting over 145, are circling around us (with an audible "roar") while in this "oasis" of deceptively calm weather. This will be the only "clear sky" we will see in almost a week!

View attachment 16489

These are two images showing hurricane Harvey making landfall near Rockport, Texas late on August 25, 2017 with sustained winds of 130 MPH (category 4). To the left is a visible satellite image of the storm as it is about to make landfall in Aransas County between Tivoli and Corpus Christi with an incredible presentation of the eye and eyewall of the storm. To the right is an image of the base-reflectivity radar (out of Corpus Christi) image of the storm eye and eyewall over Rockport and Fulton with my location (cross hairs) inside the eye as well as other storm chasers (red dots)!

Full video of Hurricane Harvey is below...

Pictures are below...

View attachment 16483

Above: Wave and wind action between Estes and Port Aransas, Texas as the gale forced wind envelope arrives during the afternoon of August 25, 2017.

View attachment 16484

Above: Eyewall of Harvey hits Rockport / Fulton after dark just before power failure during the evening of the 25th. Winds here gusting over 120 MPH.

View attachment 16485

Above: View of damage to the building from the 4th floor just before entry into the eye of Harvey during the late evening of August 25th in 140+ MPH wind gusts. Basically, the hallway ends and "drops off" 4 stories into "nothing". The building was shaking at this point, making for a very uneasy feeling.

View attachment 16486

Above: Severe flooding and damage near Fulton, Texas on August 26th.

View attachment 16487

Above: This is a terrifying view of I-45 northbound near Spring, Texas late on August 28th with raging flood waters rising and going from left (the southbound lanes) to right (my northbound lanes) and spilling over the centre median barrier. The water level to the left of the barrier is high and over-topping the 4 foot barrier. This is an EXTREMELY DANGEROUS attempt to go north and get out of the Houston area. On my side, the water is about 6 inches deep, but swiftly rushing across the lanes. An overflowing dam caused this part of the violent flood in the area.

 

[Kevin R Burgess]

I wish you could have made your report, sooner. My girlfriend had twins and expecting more, since the event...