Local Forecasts

Your local NWS Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) monitor your weather around-the-clock. (To find your local WFO, go to http://www.weather.gov/organization.php.) In addition to the forecast issued two to four times daily, the local WFO coordinates closely with NHC to provide local forecast products and warnings. One of these products is the Hurricane Local Statement (HLS).

The HLS is a valuable product that can be used as a tool to monitor several different threats (not just surge) and potential impacts to your area. It includes:

  • Counties, parishes, or cities affected
  • Watches and/or warnings in effect
  • Recommended precautionary actions
  • Storm surge and storm tide information
  • Present winds and the expected time of onset of tropical storm or hurricane-force winds
  • Tornado, flood, flash flood, rip current, beach erosion, and inland high wind potential

Below is an example of the storm surge portion of an HLS:

...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...

TIDE LEVELS REPORTED BETWEEN 330 AND 400 PM SATURDAY:

HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL/MANCHESTER – 10.4 FEET
EAGLE POINT – 7.7 FEET 
PIER 21 – 5.8 FEET 
PLEASURE PIER – 5.2 FEET 
FREEPORT – 2.7 FEET

STORM SURGE FLOODING PERSISTS ALONG THE SHORE OF GALVESTON BAY
AND ON THE BOLIVAR PENINSULA. THIS INCLUDES NEIGHBORHOODS NEAR
THE SHORE OF CLEAR LAKE...AND THE COMMUNITIES OF SMITH POINT...LA
PORTE...SEABROOK...KEMAH...BACLIFF...SAN LEON...AND SURROUNDING
AREAS. TIDE LEVELS RANGE FROM 7 TO 11 FEET IN THESE AREAS. BOLIVAR
PENINSULA IS COVERED WITH WATER. RAINFALL-INDUCED FLOODING OVER
THE LAND AND IN CREEKS AND BAYOUS MUST DRAIN OUT INTO GALVESTON
BAY WHICH WILL KEEP WATER LEVELS ON THE BAY ABOVE NORMAL FOR AN
EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. TIDE LEVELS WILL ONLY SLOWLY SUBSIDE IN
THESE AREAS THROUGH TONIGHT...AND WILL NOT RECOVER TO NEAR
NORMAL LEVELS UNTIL SUNDAY MORNING.

Community Considerations

  • What requirements are in place for new construction in flood hazard areas in your community?
  • In your community, what depth is necessary for structure foundations to protect against erosion that will be caused by storm surge in coastal flood hazard areas?
  • What actions should you advise boat and marina owners to take in the event of a major hurricane?