ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tropical Storm Harold gained a little more strength before officially making landfall Tuesday morning in South Texas, according to the National Hurricane Center.
It made landfall on Padre Island, Texas. For the next several hours, heavy rains and tropical-storm-force winds are expected.
NHC forecasters Monday morning identified the disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico as Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine because it posed the threat of bringing at least tropical storm conditions to land within the next 48 hours. Later in the day, it developed more and was designated Tropical Depression Nine.
Then, overnight into Tuesday, it became Tropical Storm Harold. Now, Harold is heading toward the South Texas coast and is set to bring heavy rains and strong winds ahead of making landfall sometime Tuesday, NHC forecasters say.
People in southern Texas and northern Mexico are advised to prepare for the potential of gusty winds and heavy rainfall.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Mouth of Rio Grande to Port O'Connor, Texas. A tropical storm watch is in effect for Port O'Connor to Sargent, Texas.
Hurricane season kicked into high gear over the weekend with the formation of tropical storms Emily, Franklin and Gert. Both Emily and Gert have dissipated and are now remnant lows; they were never a threat to land. Tropical Storm Franklin, however, could bring flooding rains to portions of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola through midweek.
The latest 2023 Atlantic hurricane season forecast by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicates an active season ahead, with 14-21 named storms, 6-11 hurricanes and 2-5 major hurricanes (Category 3 and higher). This is up from May's forecast of 12-17 named storms, 5-9 hurricanes and 1-4 major hurricanes.
Eight names already have been assigned (Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin, Gert and Harold). The next few names on the list are Idalia, Jose and Katia.