Tropical Storm Harold has hit the southern tip of the US state of Texas with damaging winds and heavy downpours as forecasters warn of possible flash flooding, minor damage and power outages.
Some 1.3 million people in southern Texas and the Rio Grande Valley area are under a warning as the storm - with winds of 80km/hr - made landfall on Padre Island, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.
Heavy downpours are expected to continue to fall at a rate up to 5cm an hour throughout the day, forecasters added.
The storm could produce coastal flooding and flooding along rivers, on roads and in poor drainage areas.
Strong winds have the potential to cause minor damage to homes and infrastructure, the NWS said.
It also warned of possible power and communications outages.
Some 7,500 homes and businesses in southern Texas were without power as Harold arrived in the area, according to Poweroutage.us.
10am CDT Tuesday 22 August -- Tropical Storm #Harold has made landfall in Padre Island, Texas. Maximum sustained winds at landfall are 50 mph with higher gusts.
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 22, 2023
Latest Advisory: https://t.co/3oYCopgXlE pic.twitter.com/o1CUDQznY0
In anticipation of the storm, Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered the deployment of state emergency response resources and an increase in the readiness level of the state's emergency operations centre.
"I encourage Texans to remain weather-aware and heed the guidance of state and local officials and emergency management personnel as they work together to keep communities safe," he said in a statement.
Tropical Storm #Harold has just made landfall in Texas, says @NHC_Atlantic
— World Meteorological Organization (@WMO) August 22, 2023
Heavy rains and tropical force winds are expected in the next few hours.
Satellite loop via @CIRA_CSU #EarlyWarningsForAll
Latest info at https://t.co/nr1pQlSrz5 pic.twitter.com/mIfeRHdPDg
Portions of northern Coahuila and Nuevo Leon in Mexico could also see flash flooding and landslides, the NWS said.
Storm Hilary moves north after drenching southern California, southwest US
Tropical Storm Hilary, meanwhile, has moved north after flooding roads, downing power lines and triggering landslides across southern California.
The system brought record-breaking rainfall, but no deaths were reported in the United States.
One man was killed in Mexico when his family was swept away while crossing a stream on Saturday, Mexican officials said.
Once hurricane strength off the coast of Mexico's Baja California peninsula, the storm was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone as it moved over the north American mainland.
Record rain fell across southern California in places such as Los Angeles and at airports in Burbank and Santa Barbara on Sunday, the weather service said.
You just never know what the road is like under those muddy floodwaters...
— National Weather Service (@NWS) August 22, 2023
⁰...or if there's even a road THERE anymore. TurnAroundDontDrown.⁰⁰
Visit https://t.co/Jlj8KgPlgu for more pic.twitter.com/2VnaZNF3H9
Remnants of the system were expected to bring heavy rain to Nevada and Utah and into the northwest.
