Tropical Storm Harvey has dragged itself off the Yucatan Peninsula and is now in the western Gulf of Mexico with very favorable conditions for rapid intensification, according to the National Weather Service. In a special advisory at 1 p.m. CDT NWS upgraded the storm to hurricane status, raised the sustained winds prediction to 125 mph from 115 mph, and the storm surge potential height prediction to 6 ft to 12 ft, from this morning's 6 ft to 10 ft. It did not change its prediction that the storm will continue to grow broader as it heads for the central Texas coast for predicted arrival Friday and Saturday, and then sit there for a two or three day stall.
This forecast sets Texas up for the need for rapid coastal evacuation, and significant rain and stormwater flooding, as well as a potential storm surge. This storm may cause big problems for a lot of the state.