Texas Heightens Readiness Level With Tropical System in Gulf
The National Hurricane Center is advising Louisiana and Texas, along with coastal areas of northern Mexico, to monitor a storm system in the Gulf of Mexico that has a 60 percent chance of becoming a tropical depression.
The NHS says a tropical depression could form Thursday or Friday before the system reaches the western Gulf Coast. Regardless of whether that occurs, heavy rainfall and gusty winds are expected across portions of northeastern Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana late this week, according to federal forecasters.
As a proactive measure, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Sept. 10 ordered the Texas State Operations Center (SOC) to elevate its readiness level. The governor’s office said the SOC increased its readiness level from level IV (normal conditions) to level III (increased readiness) beginning at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 11. Additionally, Governor Abbott has made state resources available to assist local officials in their response efforts.
“We are closely monitoring a tropical system expected to approach the Gulf of Mexico and potentially impact the Texas coast in the coming days,” Governor Abbott said in his a statement released by his office. “In light of recent heavy rainfall across the state, we are on high-alert as any additional rain could quickly create dangerous flash flooding conditions.”
Several tropical storm systems have formed in the Atlantic in recent days, including the powerful Hurricane Florence that is expected to make landfall in the Carolinas.
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