Harold Makes Landfall in South Texas, Franklin Expected to Bring Heavy Rainfall to Puerto Rico

As a testament to the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season having arrived, two tropical storms are impacting or will soon impact parts of the U.S. In south Texas, Tropical Storm Harold made landfall earlier today. And in the Caribbean, Tropical Storm Franklin is expected to bring heavy rainfall to Puerto Rico, although it is not forecast to make landfall on the island.

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Tropical Storm Harold is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches, with isolated higher amounts of 6 inches, across South Texas through early Wednesday. Scattered instances of flash flooding will be possible. Additionally, the combination of a storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. A couple of tornadoes are also possible across south Texas through the afternoon. For Tropical Storm Franklin, the NHC reports it is expected to approach the southern coast of Hispaniola today, cross the island on Wednesday, and then emerge over the southwestern Atlantic waters late Wednesday. It is not expected to make landfall on Puerto Rico, but it is forecast to produce additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches, with storm total maxima of 6 inches, across Puerto Rico and Vieques into Thursday. In addition to Harold and Franklin, the NHC is also tracking Post-Tropical Cyclone Gert, which is expected to drift slowly until it dissipates, and two disturbances. These, however, are each given just a ten percent chance of forming in the next 48 hours. Read more at the NHC.

Additionally, posted below is the FEMA Daily Operations Briefing, which provides more information on anticipated impacts and preparations for response and recovery efforts. WaterISAC stands ready to assist members with any unmet needs and can be contacted at an*****@*******ac.org and at (866)H2O-ISAC.