IKE MOVES INLAND

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IKE MOVES INLAND

13/09/2008 12:08pm

As of this morning NZT Ike was located very near Palestine, Texas, with maximum sustained winds at 100km/h. It is now been downgraded to a tropical storm. Ike was a hurricane for 9 days and 21 hours..

Tropical storm conditions are being felt anywhere from Houston/Galvston east to Beaumont and Lake Charles and north to Tyler, Texas.

There are numerous wind reports, surge reports, and damage reports coming in to weather.com.

Skyscrapers endured higher winds this morning than compared to the street level because of their elevation. Windows have been blown out in several of these very tall buildings throughout downtown Houston.

A very preliminary look tells us that water level rise forecasts did not reach their predicted levels, however, there was still considerable coastal flooding due to surge.

Final official measurements will be investigated during the next few days. It is possible that higher surge levels could be discovered when the surveys are completed especially along the west side of Galveston Bay.

Here’s a quick glance at some of the highest surge levels:
Sabine Pass, Texas – 14.24 feet
Lake Charles, Louisiana – 10-12 feet
Galveston, Texas – 9-11 feet
West side of Galveston Bay – early estimation of 14-18 feet

The main reason behind the lower than forecast totals can mainly be attributed to a landfall just slightly farther east along Galveston Island. This did not allow for a pure southeast trajectory of winds channeling into Galveston Bay.

This is the final update on IKE here at the Weather Watch Centre – for more news go to weather.com

Ike Radar

For more news from earlier today…click “Read More”

Ike made landfall at 2:10 a.m. CDT at Galveston, Texas, with maximum sustained winds near 180km/h. Its minimum pressure was 951.6 hPa, reported by the barometer at the Galveston Pleasure Pier when the center passed overhead.

Ike remains a high-end Category 2 hurricane. The estimated minimum pressure is 954 millibars.

Hurricane conditions are being reported anywhere from Freeport, Texas to Sabine Pass, Texas. There are numerous wind reports, surge reports, and damage reports coming in to weather.com.

The worst weather conditions are now occurring along the upper Texas coast, the western shores of Galveston Bay and southwestern Louisiana. The southern eyewall has reached the coast, with the center coming out of Galveston Bay.

Metro Houston will continue to face a wicked blow from Ike this morning. Aside from the coastal flooding on the southeast side of the city along the western bay, Houston will deal with sustained tropical storm-force winds with numerous gusts to hurricane force.

Skyscrapers will endure even higher winds than compared to the surface because of their elevation. There is a good chance that windows will be blown out in many of these very tall buildings throughout downtown Houston.

As Ike continues inland, life threatening flooding rains and potentially damaging winds will spread inland across Texas.

As Ike weakens Sunday/Monday, the flooding rains will shift into eastern Oklahoma, northern Arkansas, southeast Kansas, central and southern Missouri and southern Illinois.

CURRENTLY…

What are your thoughts on Hurricane Ike? Where will he strike? Have you ever experienced a hurricane or tropical cyclone? Post your comments below!

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Guest on 12/09/2008 5:49am

Hey Marie, Thanks for the video. I live about 90 miles from where Ike is going to make land fall. It is interesting to see what’s happening in the surrounding states. This appears to be a large large storm. They just called for a mandatory evacuation for my county. I live pretty high up, so we aren’t worried about the 20 foot surg. But looking to have high winds and lots of rain. We are totally prepared. Thanks again for the preview.

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WW Forecast Team on 12/09/2008 9:02am

Hi there – thanks for your comment and we wish you all the best with Ike moving in today. If you can, update us on the conditions when Ike arrives – likewise with any other Texans who are checking in here. We thrilled to have visitors as far away as America reading and posting on our New Zealand weather site.

The Weather Watch Team

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Marie G. on 11/09/2008 9:54pm

I thought you might be interested in a video taken at Gulf Shores, AL, hundreds of miles from where Ike is expected to strike in Texas. There is some flooding over the roads and very dangerous surf, even here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg2XKIDfSaA&fmt=18

I hope the video works.

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WW Forecast Team on 11/09/2008 10:06pm

Thanks for that link Marie – it’s fantastic. Pretty scary when you consider Ike is still 24 to 48 hours away from landfall.

Philip Duncan.

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F√∂ehn on 11/09/2008 10:07am

When I was a child, there was a big hurricane that hit Northland and brought down hundreds of trees from Kaikohe and between, to Dargaville and the Pouto peninsular. It also caused one of the biggest floods Dargaville had experienced until Cyclone Bola. My mother rang the school, desperate for us to be sent home, as water was already crossing our road. We were without power and telephone for four or five days. Luckily we had a wood range, although Dad had to wade through the flood and retrieve what wood he could from fence lines, since most of it floated away. Four big bullocks were struck and killed by lightening, in our neighbours. As kids, we thought the flood water was great! We put Pooh-sticks in the lawn and watched them disappear rapidly. Our parents sure worried though.

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