Looks like Harvey not over just yet

Published 6:00 pm Wednesday, August 23, 2017

The remnants of Tropical Storm Harvey could reorganize into another tropical system and bring as much as 7 inches of rainfall to the area this weekend, with up to 14 inches of rain in localized areas, a forecaster said Tuesday.

Roger Erickson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s office in Lake Charles, said Harvey is expected to develop into a tropical depression today and could reach Category 1 hurricane strength by its projected landfall Friday. The storm is expected to move northwest in the Gulf of Mexico and make landfall on the central Texas coastline.

Rain and storm surge are the two biggest threats for Southwest Louisiana, Erickson said. The surge could cause flooding in parts of Cameron, Vermilion, Iberia and St. Mary parishes. Parts of Jefferson and Orange counties in Southeast Texas could also be at risk of flooding. 

“You put that (surge) on top of the rainfall, and you’re looking at a flood threat for our area,” Erickson said.

The projected rainfall amounts are high because Harvey is expected to move at 5 mph on landfall. Typically, tropical storm systems move at 10 to 15 mph.

Erickson said the storm’s winds should weaken on landfall, with tornadoes being a smaller threat.

As of Tuesday, Erickson said, forecasters were “not confident on the specifics” of Harvey’s path. He said the weather service will provide updates throughout the week.

“This is in the early stages,” he said.

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Online: www.weather.gov/lch.