Weather after Ike - Cooler Temperatures on the Way

Cold front arrives during the day on Sunday...won't feel the real difference until overnight Sunday when conditions will become much more pleasant. Morning lows will be in the 60s with highs in the low to middle 80s through Thursday...and the humidity will be low.

So just get through Sunday and things are going to feel much better!

Hang in there everyone!

Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Ike Aftermath - May take 4 weeks to return all power

Here is the direct link to reports on restoring power. Note that they said it may take up to 4 weeks to restore all power. I'm assuming that is for the worst areas mainly south and east of Houston. Here is the link:
http://www.centerpointenergy.com/newsroom/stormcenter/ike/

And here is the statement from Centerpoint:
As Hurricane Ike approached Galveston Island on Friday, Sept. 12, CenterPoint Energy’s customers began to experience power outages. As of 11 a.m., on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2.1 million of CenterPoint Energy’s 2.26 million customers were without power. Most of this widespread damage was caused by intense wind that blew toppled trees, broken branches and fallen debris onto power lines.
CenterPoint Energy knows the location of the power outages and requests customers call only to report safety concerns, such as downed power lines or natural gas leaks. CenterPoint Energy crews are ready to respond to any gas emergencies resulting from Hurricane Ike.
“The impact of Hurricane Ike on our service territory has been extensive and widespread, affecting more than 90 percent of our customers, which is the largest power outage event in our company’s more than 130-year history,” said Kenny Mercado, division senior vice president of CenterPoint Energy’s Electric Operations. “While service remains available to the Texas Medical Center, downtown Houston and Bush Intercontinental Airport, most of the rest of our service territory is currently without power.
“As the storm leaves our territory, we are beginning to assess the damage to our transmission and distribution systems, and more than 7,000 mutual assistance skilled personnel will begin arriving Sunday to help. However, we anticipate it will take four weeks or longer for restoration to be complete, and we may need to request additional assistance from other utilities,” Mercado added.
Watch here for the latest news and outage maps. For information on hurricane safety tips you can follow before, during and after a storm visit our Storm Center.

Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Hurricane Ike Now a Tropical Storm

The center is close to Tyler, Texas and while the storm is moving away, some high water lingers. This is the latest report from the National Weather Service.


TIDE LEVELS REPORTED BETWEEN 1230 AND 130 PM SATURDAY:HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL/MANCHESTER - 11.9 FEETKEMAH - 11 FEETEAGLE POINT - 8.0 FEETPIER 21 - 5.5 FEETPLEASURE PIER - 4.4 FEETFREEPORT - 2.5 FEETSEVERE STORM SURGE FLOODING PERSISTS ALONG THE SHORE OF GALVESTONBAY AND ON THE BOLIVAR PENINSULA. THIS INCLUDES THE COMMUNITIES OFSMITH POINT...LA PORTE...SEABROOK...KEMAH...BACLIFF...SANLEON...AND SURROUNDING AREAS. TIDE LEVELS RANGE FROM 8 TO 13 FEETIN THESE AREAS. BOLIVAR PENINSULA IS COVERED WITH WATER. THE COASTGUARD IS PERFORMING RESCUES IN SAN LEON WHERE RESIDENTS ARETRAPPED ON THEIR ROOFTOPS. RAINFALL-INDUCED FLOODING OVER THELAND AND IN CREEKS AND BAYOUS MUST DRAIN OUT INTO GALVESTON BAYWHICH WILL KEEP WATER LEVELS ON THE BAY ABOVE NORMAL FOR ANEXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. TIDE LEVELS WILL ONLY SLOWLY SUBSIDE INTHESE AREAS THROUGH THIS EVENING...AND WILL NOT RECOVER TO NEARNORMAL LEVELS UNTIL LATE TONIGHT.

More to come.
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Recent Wind Reports from Hurricane Ike

The National Weather Service just issued their newest Hurricane Local Statement. Look at that peak gust of 112 mph!!!

WIND SPEEDS REPORTED 730-830 AM CDT SATURDAY:

FREEPORT - SUSTAINED 32 KNOTS GUST TO 40 KNOTS
EAGLE POINT - 39 KNOTS GUST TO 51 KNOTS

PEARLAND AIRPORT - MISSING
HOUSTON HOBBY - PEAK GUST OF 92 MPH
HOUSTON BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL - SUSTAINED 45 MPH GUST TO 66 MPH
SUGARLAND AIRPORT - MISSING
WESTPARK AND HILLCROFT IN HOUSTON - PEAK GUST OF 112 MPH

BRAZORIA NWR - SUSTAINED 22 MPH GUST TO 40 MPH
SAN BERNARD NWR - SUSTAINED 24 MPH GUST TO 42 MPH

SUSTAINED TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS OF 40 TO 60 MPH WILL CONTINUE
FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. HURRICANE FORCE WIND GUSTS OF 75 TO 90
MPH WILL AFFECT HARRIS...LIBERTY...GALVESTON...AND CHAMBERS COUNTIES
FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. WIND GUSTS OF AT LEAST TROPICAL STORM
FORCE WILL LAST THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON.

Be safe!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Hurricane Ike Weakening, Accelerating and Other Good New

As of 8 am, Hurricane Ike now downgraded to Category 1 hurricane with 90 mph winds. It is also moving fast, getting away from Houston. Lufkin area, it will be to you soon...so brace yourselves.

Still a lot of wind in the area...so try to patient and stay indoors. Don't want anyone getting injured by flying debris.

Still a lot of heavy rain in the area and several bayous and creeks are flooding. Here is the link to get all the reports:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/productview.php?pil=HGXHLSHGX

Also, Harris County is about to get 911 service back! Yay!

Be safe everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Hurricane Ike - Helping Houston Water Stay Safe to Drink

Mayor Bill White is asking people in Houston not to turn on their tap water. They are trying to maintain water pressure so the cleanliness of the public water supply is not compromised.

He also suggested that you should drink your water stored in pots and pans first rather than the bottled water. The bottled water will be good drink indefinitely whereas the water in the pots and pans has a limited life of being drinkable.

More to come.

Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Hurricane Ike Eye is NNE of Houston

First of all, just head 7:20 am that Harris County suspended 911 service as they can't get to the emergencies. This is temporary until they can get back out safely.

Also, to report downed power lines, call 713-207-2222. DON'T CALL FOR JUST POWER OUTAGES. They know about those. But your call about dangerous downed power lines will help them figure out exactly where to go.

Checked out rain totals throughout Harris County through the Office of Emergency Management rain gauge network...see my links. There are some erroneous numbers which are way to high on the northwest side...probably due to damage of the rain gauges. But there were some 9 and 10 inch totals southeast of Houston/Clear Lake area. Of course, the rain continues. Please do not go out on the roads...DO NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS. Besides there is still a lot of wind.

It will take about 4 to 6 hours (depending on where you are) before the wind will let up appreciably. Please stay inside if you can. Conditions will be particularly rough Kingwood, Atascocita, Humble and northeast communities for the new few hours.

There is a strong north flow over Galveston Bay and some new high tides will happen this am. So more storm surge flooding is possible.

Be safe everyone.
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

2 am Hurricane Ike Eye Moving On Shore

But because the eye is so wide, official landfall won't be for an hour or two.

Winds are still 110 mph...so still not considered a major hurricane.

Here's a fun site to check out while you are waiting for the storm to pass:http://houstonhidefromthewind.org/.

Be safe.
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Hurricane Ike about to Officially Make Landfall

This just came from The National Hurricane Center. Folks in the Houston area have not seen the worst of the wind yet.

AT 1 AM CDT...0600Z...THE CENTER OF LARGE HURRICANE IKE WASESTIMATED BY NOAA DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR TO BE NEAR LATITUDE 29.0NORTH...LONGITUDE 94.7 WEST OR ABOUT 20 MILES...35 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF GALVESTON TEXAS. THE NORTHWESTERN PORTION OF THEEYE SHOULD BE MOVING OVER THE GALVESTON AREA IN THE NEXT HOUR ORTWO.THE NATIONAL OCEAN SURFACE STATION AT THE GALVESTON PLEASURE PIERRECENTLY REPORTED A WIND GUST OF 85 MPH...137 KM/HR.

Be safe everyone.
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman