Landfall and Immediate Impact
Tropical Storm Edouard made landfall Tuesday afternoon along the Texas-Louisiana border after gaining strength in the Gulf of Mexico, according to multiple reports. The storm came ashore near the small coastal community of Johnson Bayou, Louisiana, and was expected to weaken as it moved inland, the National Hurricane Center said. At landfall, the storm had maximum sustained winds of about 60 mph (95 km/h), with its center located approximately 15 miles (25 kilometers) south-southeast of Port Arthur, Texas.
The storm brought heavy rains and prompted flood warnings along the coast. As it moved over southeastern Texas, the center passed near Beaumont, where city offices were closed and the Texas Office of Emergency Management advised residents to stay off the roads. More than 47,000 utility customers were without electricity in Jefferson County, which includes Beaumont, according to com.
The National Hurricane Center reported that Edouard was expected to bring 3 to 7 inches (8 to 17 centimeters) of rain, with isolated amounts up to 12 inches (30 centimeters). Another forecast, reported separately, suggested 3 to 6 inches (8 to 15 centimeters) across the Texas coast and east-central Texas, with some areas seeing up to 9 inches (23 centimeters). Southwestern Louisiana was expected to see lesser amounts.
Brad Reinhart, a senior hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center, said, "That rainfall could produce some flash flooding and river flooding."
Local Preparations and Reactions
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said the biggest concern from the storm is flooding. In a news conference, Orlando Alanis of the Texas Division of Emergency Management stated, "This is our first big storm of the season, and I'll tell you, Texas is prepared." Abbott also noted that crews had worked Monday to clear dry vegetation that could ignite from lightning strikes and cause fast-spreading fires.
Local residents described relatively mild conditions. Mike Gilbert, who owns a surf shop on Crystal Beach, Texas, closed his business ahead of the storm to ensure his employees could get home safely. He told reporters that conditions turned out to be "gray skies and drizzly rain" as Edouard made landfall about 60 miles (96 kilometers) northeast of his shop. "You literally never know," Gilbert said. "It could have all of a sudden moved over 50 miles and picked up 20 mph in wind and it could have been a whole different story."
In Cameron, Louisiana, Connor Salvador, owner of an RV park near the coast, said winds had picked up by Tuesday morning and rain was falling intermittently. "Nothing too crazy yet," he said. "We're pretty used to all these types of storms that come through," he added, noting that flooding could occur if rainfall totals were high, but he was not overly concerned.
Other Storms in the Pacific
Meanwhile, several weather systems were active in the Pacific Ocean. Hurricane Lowell, which reached hurricane strength Tuesday, was expected to remain several hundred miles away from Hawaii for at least the next few days, according to forecasters. Andrew Hagan, a forecaster with the National Hurricane Center, warned that Lowell could "increase the surf and make for dangerous beach conditions and marine conditions for any boaters near the Hawaiian islands."
Tropical Storm Marie formed early Tuesday well offshore of southwest Mexico, about 400 miles (643 kilometers) southwest of Manzanillo, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (72 km/h). Forecasters said it was moving northwest and gradually strengthening, potentially becoming a hurricane by Wednesday night.
In the eastern Pacific, Hurricane Karina strengthened Monday into a powerful Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (222 km/h), centered about 1,280 miles (2,059 kilometers) west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. Forecasters said it was expected to weaken and was not threatening land.
Additionally, the remnants of Tropical Storm Dolly brought rain and thunderstorms to parts of Haiti, the Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos, and the Bahamas, according to the hurricane center.