Tropical Storm Edouard Threatens the Texas Coast With Heavy Rain and Flooding as Impacts Stretch Toward South Central Texas
Tropical Storm Edouard was strengthening Tuesday morning as it moved toward the Texas-Louisiana coast, threatening parts of the Upper Texas Coast with heavy rainfall, flash flooding, storm surge and potentially hurricane-force conditions.
The National Hurricane Center said at 4 a.m. CDT Tuesday that Edouard was about 90 miles southeast of Port Arthur and 65 miles south-southeast of Cameron, Louisiana. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was moving west-northwest at 8 mph.
Forecasters said significant strengthening was possible before Edouard reaches the northwestern Gulf Coast later Tuesday, and the storm could approach hurricane strength before landfall.
Flooding Is Expected to Be the Biggest Texas Threat
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said flooding is expected to pose the greatest danger as the storm comes ashore.
The National Hurricane Center forecasts 3 to 6 inches of rain across portions of the Upper Texas Coast and east-central Texas, with isolated totals reaching 9 inches. The rainfall could trigger flash flooding in urban and low-lying areas, along with possible river flooding.
“This is our first big storm of the season, and I’ll tell you, Texas is prepared,” Orlando Alanis of the Texas Division of Emergency Management said Monday.
A storm surge warning was in effect along portions of the Texas and Louisiana coast. Water levels could rise 3 to 5 feet above normally dry ground between High Island, Texas, and the Vermilion-Cameron Parish line in Louisiana.
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Tropical-storm conditions were expected to reach the coast Tuesday morning, while hurricane conditions were possible in areas under a hurricane watch.
Edouard Could Increase San Antonio-Area Rain Chances
Although the strongest impacts are expected well east of San Antonio, Edouard could still affect South Central Texas later this week.
The National Weather Service Austin-San Antonio office said the storm’s remnants are expected to increase chances for showers and thunderstorms Tuesday through Friday across the Coastal Plains and into portions of the Interstate 35 corridor.
Areas closer to the Coastal Plains could receive 1 to 2 inches of rain and face a marginal risk of localized flash flooding Tuesday afternoon and evening.
San Antonio itself was not under a tropical storm watch or warning Tuesday morning. The National Weather Service said rain chances were generally expected along and east of a Burnet-to-New Braunfels line, while hotter and drier conditions remained farther west.
Edouard is forecast to move inland over southeast Texas Tuesday night and weaken rapidly once its center is over land.
Other Tropical Systems Active Across the Pacific
Edouard is one of several tropical systems being tracked as September begins.
Tropical Storm Lowell was moving west across the Pacific southeast of Hawaii Monday evening with sustained winds near 70 mph. Forecasters said the storm could rapidly strengthen into a major hurricane by Wednesday.
Farther east, Hurricane Karina strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane Monday over the open Pacific. The storm had sustained winds of 130 mph but was far from land and was not considered an immediate threat.
The remnants of Hurricane Dolly were also producing rain and thunderstorms across portions of Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas.
