Posted on 08/03/2008 6:26:11 PM PDT by BellStar
GALVESTON Tropical Storm Edouard formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday and could make landfall near Galveston by Tuesday morning, said forecasters with the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Edouard is the hurricane seasons fifth named storm.
What had been a cluster of storms around a low-pressure system on Saturday was upgraded to a tropical depression Sunday afternoon and then to a tropical storm at 5 p.m. on Sunday. Forecasters expect the storm will strengthen.
The storm was hugging the Louisiana coast and moving west. A tropical storm watch was in effect from Port Arthur to Galveston.
John Simsen, the emergency management coordinator for Galveston County, said local emergency management officials were preparing for what could be a Category 1 hurricane when Edouard makes landfall. Mary Jo Nashke, the emergency management spokeswoman for the city of Galveston, said the citys emergency operations center would open at 6 a.m. today.
Bruce Clawson, the director of homeland security for Texas City said the Moses Lake floodgate would be closed Sunday night as low tide set in and the water level in the lake which serves as the flood relief reservoir for the city was at the lowest point possible.
Simsen said that there would be a conference call of all of the countys emergency management officials at 8:30 a.m. today.
Emergency management officials were also warning those who live in low-lying coastal communities including Galvestons West End, as well as the north county water communities of Bacliff, San Leon and Kemah to consider making plans for a hurricane making landfall.
Tides are expected to be 2 to 4 feet higher than normal,, and Edouard is expected to be a heavy rainmaker no matter where it makes landfall.
Most computer models have Edouard making landfall on or near Galveston Islands West End as a tropical storm early Tuesday morning. The forecasters cone of uncertainty, however, includes areas along the Texas and Louisiana border to as far south as Corpus Christi.
Great pics - your boat is awesome. What fun you must have! Lived in Lake Charles several years ago and used to be part of regatta crew for my neighbor. Hard work - went in the drink more than once. Also have a friend who has a small sailboat he keeps in lake outside St. Louis. Best place in the world to sleep is on the water!
I lived aboard a 36 foot power boat for a year when I was single. I love the motion of the ocean you get while sleeping too! We spend the night often on the boat. We are pleasure boaters. No racing for me/us.
The local TV stations were all up linked in the Boardwalk parking lot all night and day. Some were by the 6th street lighthouse. 13,11,2 and some foreign correspondents (Mexican Media). I talked to most of them who called me the night before and these were most unhappy pun dents. Why? Because our lives were not destroyed? Death and destruction did not ensue? No great pictures? You never heard such whining!
Edouard brought needed rain, fortunately it was a much To-Do about nothing storm...yes were open in Kemah!
I watched the storm at the Boardwalk and it was open all day.
Sending claim to my insurance for 1 Miller Light.
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