Local Forecasts

The daily forecasts and HLS issued by your local WFO will provide important information on the wind threat.

Below is an example of the wind forecast in an HLS:

...WIND IMPACTS...
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS...39 MPH OR GREATER...ARE EXPECTED TO
REACH THE UPPER TEXAS COAST AROUND NOON FRIDAY AND SPREAD INLAND
TO THE INTERSTATE 10 CORRIDOR BY LATE AFTERNOON. THE TROPICAL STORM
FORCE WINDS ARE THEN EXPECTED TO PUSH NORTHWARD ACROSS THE REMAINDER
OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS BY AROUND MIDNIGHT.

THE ONSET OF HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED AT THE COAST LATE
FRIDAY EVENING. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO SPREAD
INLAND ACROSS THE EASTERN 1/4 PORTION OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS...GENERALLY
EAST OF INTERSTATE 45...THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF FRIDAY NIGHT AND
INTO SATURDAY AFTERNOON. ASSUMING THE RITA FOLLOWS THE FORECAST TRACK
...LISTED BELOW ARE ESTIMATED WINDS SELECTED COUNTIES CAN EXPECT.
KEEP IN MIND THEY WILL BE HIGHER TO THE EAST AND NOT AS STRONG TOWARD
MATAGORDA BAY:

COUNTY SUSTAINED WINDS (MPH) PEAK GUST (MPH)
CHAMBERS 125 155
LIBERTY 115 140
POLK 100 130
GALVESTON 90 110
HARRIS 75 90
SAN JACINTO 75 90
TRINITY 75 90
BRAZORIA 60 80
WHARTON 55 70
BRAZOS 55 65
MATAGORDA 45 60

AN INLAND HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST
TEXAS. THIS MEANS SUSTAINED WINDS GREATER THAN 74 MPH ARE POSSIBLE
OVER ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

THE IMPACTS FOR SUSTAINED WINDS OF 70 TO 90 MPH WITH GUSTS 100 TO 110
MPH ARE AS FOLLOWS...
VERY DANGEROUS WINDS WILL PRODUCE WIDESPREAD DAMAGE. DESTRUCTION OF
MOBILE HOMES ARE LIKELY!

Community Considerations

  • Does your community building code set standards that will help buildings withstand winds in a major hurricane?
  • Do your shelter facilities include long-span structures (such as gymnasiums) that are vulnerable in high winds?
  • Do you have plans for post-storm tree clearance and temporary traffic control measures?