CLAUDETTE BEGINNING TO WEAKEN AS IT MOVES INLAND OVER SOUTHERN TEXAS

July 15, 2003 � The NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla., reports that at 3 p.m. EDT the center of Hurricane Claudette was located near latitude 28.6 north, longitude 97.1 west or about 20 miles south-southwest of Victoria, Texas. Claudette is moving toward the west-northwest near 14 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. This motion will bring the eye of Claudette into the inland areas of south Texas during the remainder of Tuesday afternoon. When the eye passes overhead, the winds will decrease to near calm and then increase to equal or even greater force than before the eye passed. Do not venture out during the passage of the eye. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Claudette taken at 12:15 p.m. EDT on July 15, 2003. Click here for high resolution, which is a very large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 75 mph with higher gusts. Further weakening should occur as the eye of Claudette moves farther inland. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 175 miles mainly over water to the east of the center. Hurricane conditions are occurring over portions of southern Texas near the eye, with tropical storm conditions elsewhere along portions of the middle and upper Texas coast. (Click NOAA National Weather Service Doppler Radar image in Houston, Texas, for larger view of Hurricane Claudette eyewall making landfall taken at 1:22 p.m. EDT on July 15, 2003. Click here for latest Doppler radar images. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Victoria, Texas, reported sustained winds of 49 mph with a wind gust to 63 mph before contact was lost with the station. There was an unofficial report of sustained winds of 94 mph with a wind gust to 104 mph at Point Comfort, Texas, as Claudette made landfall.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 985 mb, 29.09 inches.

Storm surge flooding, swells and battering waves along the Texas coast should subside Tuesday night as the center of Claudette moves further inland. Storm total rainfall of 5 to 8 inches is possible in association with Claudette. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Claudette taken at 11:15 a.m. EDT on July 15, 2003. Click here for high resolution, which is a very large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Isolated tornadoes are possible along the upper and middle Texas coastal areas through Tuesday night.

A hurricane warning remains in effect along the Texas coast from Baffin Bay to High Island. A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the Texas coast north of High Island to Sabine Pass.

Special Statements from NOAA National Weather Service Forecast Offices.

Corpus Christi, Texas

Brownsville, Texas

Houston/Galveston, Texas

Houston, Texas, Doppler Radar

Lake Charles, La.

For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by NOAA National Weather Service local forecast offices.

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