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Severe Weather and Flash Flooding Threat in the Central U.S. This Weekend

Heavy rain and severe weather is forecast across the central and southern Plains this weekend. Large hail and strong winds will be the primary threats. A Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) for severe thunderstorms has been issued. Consecutive days of heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding across Missouri and Oklahoma on Sunday. A Moderate Risk (Level 3 of 4) for excessive rainfall has been issued. Read More >

Hurricane Dolly - July 23-24, 2008

 

 

Hurricane Dolly made landfall approximately 80 miles south of Corpus Christi Texas on Wednesday July 23, 2008. Sustained tropical storm force winds spread as far north as the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station with tropical storm force wind gusts impacting nearly the entire Coastal Bend and Rio Grande Plains region. The peak wind gust measured in our county warning area was 63 MPH at the ASOS in Alice Texas. The winds peaked at approximately 60 mph along the barrier island as well from Bob Hall Pier down to Baffin Bay. The gusty winds caused sporadic power outages across the southern Coastal Bend and Rio Grande Plains primarily between Corpus Christi and Laredo. Only a few thousand customers were impacted.

Although the center of Dolly passed well to our south, her slow forward motion before landfall caused water levels to rise along the Mid Texas Coast. A storm surge of 2-3 feet MLLW was observed along the mid Coast and total storm tides approached 4 feet MLLW on North Padre Island shortly after the time of landfall Wednesday Evening. It is also interesting to note that total storm tides peaked at 3-3.5 Ft above MLLW in the back Bays including Nueces Bay and Lavaca Bay. At the time of this writing surge data was not available for Baffin Bay. You can view the damage Dolly caused by going to the Damage Photos tab atop the page.

Tornadoes are common in Hurricanes and are generated in two areas: the eye wall region, and in the northeast quadrant of the hurricane, up to 250 miles northeast of the center. The National Weather Service in Corpus Christi issued 6 tornado warnings on the day of landfall. Warnings were issued for San Patricio, Nueces, Kleberg and Jim Wells Counties.

See Radar Velocity Data

Isolated tornadoes occurred in the northeast quadrant including one waterspout and three tornadoes. Only minor damage was observed. The tornadoes were all rated EF-0. A Tornado Watch was posted from Tuesday Evening through Thursday Evening as strong wind shear, with helicity values in excess of 200 m2/s2, persisted. Tornado damage can also be seen in the Damage Photos tab

Dolly's slow movement produced torrential rainfall over the mid coast region and Rio Grande Plains. Rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inches were observed over northern portions of the region from Victoria to Laredo. Totals of 3-6 inches; were observed generally south of a line from Rockport to Zapata. These heavy rains resulted in flooding of rural low lying roadways including FM 70 near Chapman Ranch in southern Nueces County, FM 628 and 1118 in Kleberg County. Minor street flooding was observed in Jim Wells and Duval Counties. The city of Laredo also experienced street flooding as the center of the circulation passed over the city. The heavy rains will have a negative impact on the farmer's ability to harvest the cotton crop. However the rains did end a severe drought which plagued the south Texas region for much of this year.

View Rainfall Totals Table

Dolly marks the forth hurricane to make landfall in Texas this decade. Hurricane Umberto made landfall near High Island Texas in 2007. Hurricane Rita hit southeast Texas in 2005 and Hurricane Claudette made landfall near Port O'Connor in 2003.

There were no deaths or injuries reported in the mid coast region from Dolly.

 

Tide Impacts on Mustang and North Padre Islands From Hurricane Dolly

 

 

 

Before and After Photos of Beach

 

 

Before Dolly - July 22, 2008

 

 
 

 

Dolly Approaching - July 23, 2008

 

 

 

After Dolly - July 25, 2008

 

 

 

Before and After Modis Images

 



 

 

Minor Damage from EF-0 Tornadoes July 23, 2008

 

 
San Patricio County - 5 Miles South of Bayside Roof was blown off a shed and into an open field. This RV trailor was flipped on its side. Several mesquite trees were also damaged by the tornado. Radar velicity data showed tornado couplet moved right over this location Jim Wells County 9 North of Premont on HWY 281 Several trees were damaged along a 1/2 mile path

 

Hurricane Dolly's Tidal Impacts on Mid Texas Coast

 

 

Data is Courtesy of Texas Coastal Ocean & Observation Network

 

 
Port Lavaca TCOON Site - Inland Bay Side Sea Drift TCOON site - Inland Bay Side Copano Bay TCOON site Rockport TCOON site - Inland Bay Side Ingleside TCOON site - Inland Bay Side TX State Aquarium TCOON site White Point TCOON site - Inland Corpus Christi Ship Channel Port Aransas TCOON site - Inland Bay Side Packery Channel TCOON site Bob Hall Pier NOS Site Port Isabel TCOON Site

 

 

 

Radar Loop of Category 2 Hurricane Dolly

4 Panel Velocity Loop

Satellite Loop of Category 2 Hurricane Dolly Landfall
Image courtesy of Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies - UW Madison

 

 

Satellite Loop of Category 2 Hurricane Dolly

Other Satellite Photos of Hurricane Dolly

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weather Map of 250 MB Level - 12z July 23, 2008 (7am CDT) Weather Map of 250 MB Level - 00z July 24, 2008 (7pm CDT)
Weather Map of 250 MB Level - 12z July 24, 2008 (7am CDT) Weather Map of 250 MB Level - 00z July 25, 2008 (7pm CDT)
Weather Map of 250 MB Level - 12z July 25, 2008 (7am CDT)
Weather Map of 500 MB Level - 12z July 23, 2008 (7am CDT) Weather Map of 500 MB Level - 00z July 24, 2008 (7pm CDT)
Weather Map of 500 MB Level - 12z July 24, 2008 (7am CDT) Weather Map of 500 MB Level - 00z July 25, 2008 (7pm CDT)
Weather Map of 500 MB Level - 12z July 25, 2008 (7am CDT)
Weather Map of 700 MB Level - 12z July 23, 2008 (7am CDT) Weather Map of 700 MB Level - 00z July 24, 2008 (7pm CDT)
Weather Map of 700 MB Level - 12z July 24, 2008 (7am CDT) Weather Map of 700 MB Level - 00z July 25, 2008 (7pm CDT)
Weather Map of 700 MB Level - 12z July 25, 2008 (7am CDT)
Weather Map of 850 MB Level - 12z July 23, 2008 (7am CDT) Weather Map of 850 MB Level - 00z July 24, 2008 (7pm CDT)
Weather Map of 850 MB Level - 12z July 24, 2008 (7am CDT) Weather Map of 850 MB Level - 00z July 25, 2008 (7pm CDT)
Weather Map of 850 MB Level - 12z July 25, 2008 (7am CDT)
Weather Map of 925 MB Level - 12z July 23, 2008 (7am CDT) Weather Map of 925 MB Level - 00z July 24, 2008 (7pm CDT)
Weather Map of 925 MB Level - 12z July 24, 2008 (7am CDT) Weather Map of 925 MB Level - 00z July 25, 2008 (7pm CDT)
Weather Map of 925 MB Level - 12z July 25, 2008 (7am CDT)
Surface Map - 12z July 23, 2008 (7am CDT) Surface Map - 00z July 24, 2008 (7pm CDT)
07/23/2008 00Z CRP Sounding 07/23/2008 18z CRP Sounding
07/24/2008 00Z CRP Sounding 07/25/2008 00Z CRP Sounding