Tropical Storm Harold made its landfall on Tuesday morning at Padre Island in Texas, announced the National Hurricane Center. This storm was poised to bring significant rainfall and powerful winds to the southern regions of Texas and northern parts of Mexico as it ventured inland.
The emergence of Tropical Storm Harold in the United States followed a day after Hilary brought heavy rainfall to sections of California and Nevada. Initially a tropical depression, Harold gained strength overnight in the Gulf of Mexico before setting its course toward Texas, as reported by the hurricane center.
As of 10 a.m. CDT, the storm’s location was situated approximately 35 miles north of Port Mansfield, Texas, and about 50 miles south of Corpus Christi, Texas. It boasted maximum sustained winds of 50 mph while moving west-northwest at a speed of 21 mph.
A tropical storm warning spanned from the mouth of the Rio Grande to Port O’Connor, and a tropical storm watch was issued from Port O’Connor to Sargent, Texas.
David Parkinson, the CBS News weather and climate producer, remarked that the region had been grappling with drought conditions, rendering it “parched.”
The National Hurricane Center noted that Tropical Storm Harold had already initiated substantial rainfall and strong winds within the warned area and was projected to advance further inland throughout the course of the day.
The storm’s impact extended outward, covering a radius of up to 115 miles from its center. Predictions indicated that the system could generate 3 to 5 inches of rainfall, with localized areas possibly receiving up to 7 inches by early Wednesday. The heightened precipitation raised concerns about sporadic instances of flash flooding.
