Current Severe Weather for Brazoria County:

Issued at: 1:30 PM CDT 7/14/03, expires at: 5:00 PM CDT 7/14/03

Location:
at 1 pm cdt, the center of tropical storm claudette was located near latitude 27.3 north, longitude 92.8 west. This is about 190 miles southeast of freeport texas.

Movement:
tropical storm claudette was moving north northwest near 6 mph. A turn toward the west northwest is expected during the next 24 hours. This motion could bring the center of claudette to the texas coast around matagorda bay by Tuesday evening.

Winds:
maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours, and claudette could become a hurricane later today or tonight.
Precautionary/preparedness actions. local officials have recommended the evacuation of the west end of galveston island and the bolivar peninsula. Residents along the southeast texas coast should continue to monitor the progress of tropical storm claudette this afternoon and tonight. Residents should complete preparedness plans this afternoon and make sure their family disaster kit is fully stocked.
Storm surge and tides. tides are currently running 3.0 to 3.5 feet. These levels will produce minor flooding on the bolivar peninsula as the water encroaches on the dunes. Northeast to east winds increase over the next 24 hours. As a result, tides as early as Tuesday afternoon could rise to around 5 feet in galveston bay and the matagorda peninsula, 5 to 7 feet from san luis pass to matagorda bay, and around 8 feet near where the center makes landfall. If claudette tracks further to the north, 6 to 7 foot tides will be possible along the west end of galveston bay and the west end of galveston island Tuesday night.
Location expected water levels at high tide
Clear lake mon 1:43 pm 2.9 ft. Tue 2:19 pm 4.8 ft. Wed 2:50 pm 4.4 ft.
Eagle point tue 12:08 pm 4.4 ft. Wed 12:39 pm 4.4 ft.
Freeport mon 1:39 pm 3.9 ft. Tue 7:30 am 4.7 ft. Tue 3:06 pm 4.5 ft. Wed 8:01 am 5.2 ft.
Galveston channel mon 2:23 pm 3.2 ft. Tue 8:14 am 4.0 ft. Tue 3:50 pm 4.6 ft. Wed 8:45 am 4.5 ft.
Jamaica beach mon 5:01 pm 3.7 ft. Tue 10:52 am 4.3 ft. Tue 6:28 pm 4.4 ft. Wed 11:23 am 4.5 ft.
Morgans point mon 5:59 pm 3.2 ft. Tue 6:35 pm 4.4 ft. Wed 7:06 pm 4.0 ft.
Pleasure pier tue 7:00 am 4.3 ft. Tue 3:05 pm 5.1 ft. Wed 7:37 am 5.1 ft.
Port bolivar mon 2:37 pm 3.8 ft. Tue 8:28 am 4.2 ft. Tue 4:04 pm 4.7 ft. Wed 8:59 am 4.7 ft.
Port oconnor mon 1:53 pm 3.1 ft. Tue 2:59 pm 5.4 ft. Wed 4:00 pm 5.3 ft.
San luis pass mon 2:14 pm 3.4 ft. Tue 8:05 am 4.2 ft. Tue 3:41 pm 5.1 ft. Wed 8:36 am 5.3 ft.
Wind impacts. tropical storm force winds are expected to affect the upper texas coast from freeport to high island as early as 3 am and 6 am Tuesday morning. Tropical storm force winds are expected to affect locations from freeport to palacios as early as 6 am and 9 am Tuesday. Tropical storm force winds are expected to affect the houston area and inland locations to the south and west of houston Tuesday afternoon. Hurricane force winds are expected to affect the matagorda bay area between 3 pm and 9 pm on Tuesday. If the track of claudette shifts further north, hurricane force winds will be possible over parts of brazoria and wharton counties Tuesday afternoon or evening.
Rainfall. showers and thunderstorms will continue to develop on the periphery of claudette today. An initial band of showers has already affected the coastline of chambers, galveston, and brazoria counties. This afternoon and this evening, rainfall totals are expected to average 1/2 to 1 inch mainly over the coastal counties as additional rainbands move onshore. Heavier rains will spread into southeast texas as early as tonight. The highest totals are expected mainly along and south of interstate 10 where 3 to 6 inches will be possible. Some 5 to 10 inch amounts may occur in and near where the center makes landfall.
Tornadoes. waterspouts have already been observed along the upper texas coast off of galveston island. The threat for waterspouts will persist through Tuesday night as claudette approaches the texas coast. There will also be an increasing threat for tornadoes across southeast texas beginning later tonight and on into Tuesday.
Next update. the next update for tropical storm claudette will be around 5 pm cdt.
For more hurricane information, see the national hurricane center web page at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov or the national weather service''s web page in houston/galveston at http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx.

Expires: 5:00 PM CDT 07/14/03