Beta Forecast to Begin Moving Slowly West-Northwestward on Sunday

BULLETIN
Tropical Storm Beta Advisory Number 10
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL222020
1000 PM CDT Sat Sep 19 2020

SUMMARY OF 1000 PM CDT…0300 UTC…INFORMATION
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LOCATION…26.8N 92.2W
ABOUT 235 MI…375 KM SE OF GALVESTON TEXAS
ABOUT 325 MI…525 KM E OF CORPUS CHRISTI TEXAS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…60 MPH…95 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…NNE OR 25 DEGREES AT 2 MPH…4 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…997 MB…29.44 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS
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A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for…
* Port Aransas, Texas to Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana, including Copano Bay, Aransas Bay, San Antonio Bay, Matagorda Bay, Galveston Bay, Sabine Lake, and Lake Calcasieu

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for…
* Baffin Bay, Texas to Port Aransas, Texas including Baffin Bay and Corpus Christi Bay

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…
* Port Aransas Texas to High Island Texas

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
* Port Aransas Texas to Morgan City Louisiana

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for…
* South of Port Aransas Texas to the Mouth of the Rio Grande

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
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At 1000 PM CDT (0300 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Beta was located near latitude 26.8 North, longitude 92.2 West. Beta has drifted toward the north-northeast near 2 mph (4 km/h) since this morning. A slow motion toward the west-northwest is forecast to begin on Sunday, followed by a slow northwest to north motion late Monday and Tuesday. On the forecast track, the center of Beta will move toward the coast of Texas and potentially move inland late Monday or early Tuesday.

Data from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds remain near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast during the next couple of days before Beta reaches the Texas coast. Weakening is anticipated once Beta moves inland Monday night or Tuesday.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles (295 km) mainly to the north of the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 997 MB (29.44 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
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STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide…

* Baffin Bay, TX to Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, LA including Corpus Christi Bay, Baffin Bay, Copano Bay, Aransas Bay, San Antonio Bay, Matagorda Bay, Galveston Bay, Sabine Lake, and Calcasieu Lake…2-4 ft
* Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, LA to Ocean Springs, MS including Vermilion Bay…1-3 ft
* Lake Borgne, Lake Pontchartrain, and Lake Maurepas…1-3 ft
* The mouth of the Rio Grande to Baffin Bay, TX…1-2 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle and can vary greatly over short distances. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.

WIND: Tropical storm conditions are beginning in the tropical storm warning area along the southwestern Louisiana coast and will spread westward to the warning areas in Texas late Sunday through early Monday. Hurricane conditions are possible within the hurricane watch area by late Monday or Monday night. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the tropical storm watch area along the central Louisiana coast tonight and are possible within the tropical storm watch area along the south Texas coast on Monday.

RAINFALL: Through Thursday, Beta is expected to produce rainfall accumulations of 8 to 12 inches with isolated totals of 20 inches across southern Louisiana and coastal southeast Texas, with 3 to 7 inches spreading northward into the Mid-South mid next week. Flash and urban flooding is likely as well as minor river flooding. Isolated moderate flooding along the middle Texas coast is possible.

SURF: Swells are increasing and reaching the coast of Texas and the Gulf Coast of Mexico, generated by a combination of Beta and a cold front entering the northern Gulf of Mexico. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.

Category: ALL POSTS, Severe Weather, Tropical