Another disturbance is forming over the southern Gulf of Mexico where Tropical Storm Alberto formed earlier this week. However…
“Few impacts are expected along the upper Texas coast.”
Harris County Meteorologist Jeff Lindner
Satellite and surface observations indicate that the storm is moving slowly toward the WNW/NW.
“A deep convective band has developed well to the north of the broad surface low while other convective activity remains at a minimum,” said Lindner.
As of 15:00 Zulu time, which equals 10 AM in Houston
“Some additional development of this feature is possible over the next few days as it moves slowly toward the WNW/NW. Eventually it will make landfall along the eastern coast of Mexico,” he said.
50% Chance of Development
The National Hurricane Center currently gives this disturbance a 50% chance of development in the next two days.
As of 12:00 AM CDT on Saturday, June 22, 2024
“Given the broad nature of the surface low, it may take some time for the system to consolidate,” Lindner continued. “And it is equally possible that it runs out of time and makes landfall before developing into a tropical system.”
Possible tracks of storm system
Little Impact Predicted Along Upper Texas Coast
Generally there will be little to no impact of this system along the upper TX coast. Current elevated tides are the result of the subsiding wave action from Alberto and the current full-moon cycle. Elevated tides will continue to subside over the next few days.
“With high pressure building across the Houston area, moisture will remain mostly south of us,” concluded Lindner.
Three weeks into the hurricane season, most of the action has been in the Gulf of Mexico. This is consistent with earlier predictions. Forecasters predicted that the developing La Niña would reduce wind sheer in the Gulf. That allows more storms to build closer to Houston as opposed to the mid-Atlantic.
So check the National Hurricane Center daily. And make sure you’re prepared for a storm. The closer they originate to Texas, the less time we have to prepare for them.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/22/24
2489 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Invest-93L.png?fit=1346%2C994&ssl=19941346adminadmin2024-06-22 11:41:482024-06-22 11:51:27Another Disturbance Following Path of Tropical Storm Alberto
6/21/24 – Entergy has removed some – but not all – blockages to the Northpark expansion project related to its equipment. The project is designed to build an all-weather evacuation route for 78,000 Kingwood residents.
Entergy removed several of its poles that blocked expansion of the roadway earlier this week.
The company is also committing to dates for the removal of other poles that remain in the way of construction.
The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ-10 first notified Entergy that it would have to move its equipment in 2020. On February 6th this year, the City of Houston finally set a firm deadline. It gave Entergy 30 days to move its equipment. That deadline was obviously missed.
Entergy says it has been working diligently to help Northpark expansion move forward. As we move into what is expected to be a very busy hurricane season, here’s where the TIRZ and Entergy say things stand and what I have been able to verify photographically.
Some Poles Already Removed Earlier This Week
Entergy removed several poles that blocked construction progress on Tuesday, June 18. They were located near Dunkin’ Donuts and Public Storage.
Note old pole on ground in front of Public Storage (out of frame to right).
MoreEntergy poles being removed by Primoris crew in front of Dunkin’ Donuts
Two other groups of poles continue to block construction, however. Here’s what Entergy is doing to address those.
Blockage #1: Poles West of Car Wash
The first blockage is a group of three poles immediately west of the Quick Quack Car Wash where new westbound turn lanes will begin. This group of poles still holds a Comcast cable. See below.
Looking W. Three short poles on left between Duncan Donuts and Quick Quack Carwash have yet to be moved.
Comcast has committed to burying this cable next week. Then Primoris can remove the poles for Entergy.
Blockage #2: Poles near Loop 494
The second group also has three poles – at Loop 494 and the Union Pacific railroad tracks. However, these three poles have two separate issues with which Entergy must contend.
They supply redundant power to the businesses along Northpark.
An Internet provider, Brightspeed, also has a line mounted on two of the three poles. (See #2 and #3 below.)
Looking W from over Northpark across 494. Three more Entergy power poles blocking Northpark Drive expansion.
To get these three poles out of the way of Northpark expansion, Entergy has three options:
Move them north (right in photo above)
Bore under the roadway and tracks
A combination of the above.
According to Brian Garcia, Entergy’s project manager, his company has chosen a combination of the two approaches. It will move the overhead lines north temporarily while it works out permits and easements with TXDoT and Union Pacific.
Once Entergy has secured permissions needed, it will then bury the lines, a solution that is more reliable. It is also more expensive because two moves are involved rather than one. But it should let construction move forward faster.
Entergy has committed to delivering a plan to temporarily relocate Pole #1 (in the photo above) by end of day today.
Weather permitting, Entergy also plans to actually relocate its wires on Poles #2 and #3 by 6/28/24 – next Friday. Entergy would then top its old poles. That would let BrightSpeed remove its cable. And then Primoris could remove the old poles.
Union Pacific Sets Meeting on Crossing Signals
Meanwhile, Union Pacific (UP) has set a meeting for July 9 to talk about relocating its crossing signals. It’s a firm deadline, according to De Leon, the TIRZ’s project manager for Northpark Expansion.
Unexpected delays by any party in this ballet of corporate behemoths could create a domino effect that could push the Northpark project back into next year. Or even force cancellation.
Blockage #3: Transformer At Exxon
Meanwhile, at the Exxon Station near US59, Entergy also has a transformer that must be moved farther back from the roadway. See red circle below. The distance has to do, in part, with line-of-sight issues for motorists. Its height means that it could block the view of motorists entering or leaving the roadway.
Entergy transformer at US59 (top) and Northpark (right) circled in red.
But working around the transformer presents serious construction problems. The wires leading to/from it are not up to code, according to De Leon.
He says that the City building code calls for underground wiring to be encased in steel. But the wiring in this area is not. That could jeopardize the safety of heavy equipment operators working to expand Northpark in this area.
Garcia disagrees. He says all of their equipment and lines meet or exceed all applicable building codes.
Several weeks ago, a contractor for the TIRZ did some exploratory hydro-excavation as part of its due diligence for the roadway expansion project. The contractor found Entergy wires that were exposed, not encased like De Leon says they should have been.
Wiring near Entergy transformer exposed during exploratory hydro-excavation process.
De Leon shared this photo in the June TIRZ board meeting. He says it creates a major safety issue for construction workers near the transformer. According to him, the workers could be electrocuted if, for instance, the bucket of an excavator accidentally cut one of the wires.
Garcia says Entergy crews will move the transformer. But De Leon and his contractors are concerned about what could happen if they encounter similar wires as they work in the same general area.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/21/2024
2488 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240618-DJI_20240618124358_0217_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2024-06-21 14:46:302024-06-21 17:14:16Northpark Expansion Obstacles Finally Being Addressed
Until then, the entire Texas Coast up to San Luis Pass is under a tropical storm warning. Residents can expect heavy rains, coastal flooding and gusty winds through Thursday.
NHC expects Alberto to weaken quickly once it comes ashore early Thursday. The storm is moving at 9 miles per hour with maximum sustained winds of 40 MPH. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 415 miles north of the center.
Peak storm surge will reach 2-4 feet along the upper Texas Coast and Galveston Bay.
Rainfall Still Ratcheting Down
Rainfall predictions continue to ratchet down, however, especially for the Houston area as Alberto is pushed south by higher pressure from the northeast U.S.
Alberto should produce 5 to 10 inches of rainfall across northeast Mexico into South Texas. Maximum totals around 20 inches are possible. This rainfall will likely produce considerable flash and urban flooding along with new and renewed river flooding.
NHC will produce more advisories on Alberto at 1 and 4 PM today.
Make Alberto a Learning Experience
If you have kids home from school looking for something to do, this is an excellent chance to teach them about tropical cyclones.
NHC offers dozens of educational resources geared toward students from K-12 all the way up to continuing education for weather professionals. Harness your child’s natural curiosity while storms are in the news.
I found NHC’s course on Hurricane Basics very informative. Before Alberto became Alberto, it had winds strong enough to qualify as a tropical storm, but NHC kept calling it a potential tropical cyclone instead. Do you know the other attributes that define tropical cyclones? Hurricane Basics tells you.
Want to know what it takes to get a tropical cyclone started?
What affects their intensity?
Or how various factors come together to produce more or less rainfall?
NHC describes each of the factors above and provides clear, simple illustrations that make them easy to understand.
This particular presentation also covers:
Storm tracks
Where hurricanes will most likely form depending on month of the season
Tropical distrubances
Track forecasting
Associated hazards, such as hurricanes
Relative risks from wind, rainfall, surge, flash flooding, etc.
Categories of storms and types of damage associated with each
More, much more.
Trivia: By the way, NHC provides climate data, too. Did you know, for instance, that the first named storm of the season usually occurs on June 20th in the Atlantic Basin. This year, the first named storm occurred on June 19.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/19/24
2486 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/144941_5day_cone_no_line_and_wind.png?fit=897%2C736&ssl=1736897adminadmin2024-06-19 12:00:382024-06-19 12:00:39Alberto, First Named Storm of Season, Lashes Mexico, South TX
Another Disturbance Following Path of Tropical Storm Alberto
Another disturbance is forming over the southern Gulf of Mexico where Tropical Storm Alberto formed earlier this week. However…
Satellite and surface observations indicate that the storm is moving slowly toward the WNW/NW.
“A deep convective band has developed well to the north of the broad surface low while other convective activity remains at a minimum,” said Lindner.
“Some additional development of this feature is possible over the next few days as it moves slowly toward the WNW/NW. Eventually it will make landfall along the eastern coast of Mexico,” he said.
50% Chance of Development
The National Hurricane Center currently gives this disturbance a 50% chance of development in the next two days.
“Given the broad nature of the surface low, it may take some time for the system to consolidate,” Lindner continued. “And it is equally possible that it runs out of time and makes landfall before developing into a tropical system.”
Little Impact Predicted Along Upper Texas Coast
Generally there will be little to no impact of this system along the upper TX coast. Current elevated tides are the result of the subsiding wave action from Alberto and the current full-moon cycle. Elevated tides will continue to subside over the next few days.
“With high pressure building across the Houston area, moisture will remain mostly south of us,” concluded Lindner.
Three weeks into the hurricane season, most of the action has been in the Gulf of Mexico. This is consistent with earlier predictions. Forecasters predicted that the developing La Niña would reduce wind sheer in the Gulf. That allows more storms to build closer to Houston as opposed to the mid-Atlantic.
So check the National Hurricane Center daily. And make sure you’re prepared for a storm. The closer they originate to Texas, the less time we have to prepare for them.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/22/24
2489 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Northpark Expansion Obstacles Finally Being Addressed
6/21/24 – Entergy has removed some – but not all – blockages to the Northpark expansion project related to its equipment. The project is designed to build an all-weather evacuation route for 78,000 Kingwood residents.
Entergy removed several of its poles that blocked expansion of the roadway earlier this week.
The company is also committing to dates for the removal of other poles that remain in the way of construction.
The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ-10 first notified Entergy that it would have to move its equipment in 2020. On February 6th this year, the City of Houston finally set a firm deadline. It gave Entergy 30 days to move its equipment. That deadline was obviously missed.
Entergy says it has been working diligently to help Northpark expansion move forward. As we move into what is expected to be a very busy hurricane season, here’s where the TIRZ and Entergy say things stand and what I have been able to verify photographically.
Some Poles Already Removed Earlier This Week
Entergy removed several poles that blocked construction progress on Tuesday, June 18. They were located near Dunkin’ Donuts and Public Storage.
Primoris, an Entergy contractor, took down that and several other poles that day.
Two other groups of poles continue to block construction, however. Here’s what Entergy is doing to address those.
Blockage #1: Poles West of Car Wash
The first blockage is a group of three poles immediately west of the Quick Quack Car Wash where new westbound turn lanes will begin. This group of poles still holds a Comcast cable. See below.
Comcast has committed to burying this cable next week. Then Primoris can remove the poles for Entergy.
Blockage #2: Poles near Loop 494
The second group also has three poles – at Loop 494 and the Union Pacific railroad tracks. However, these three poles have two separate issues with which Entergy must contend.
To get these three poles out of the way of Northpark expansion, Entergy has three options:
According to Brian Garcia, Entergy’s project manager, his company has chosen a combination of the two approaches. It will move the overhead lines north temporarily while it works out permits and easements with TXDoT and Union Pacific.
Once Entergy has secured permissions needed, it will then bury the lines, a solution that is more reliable. It is also more expensive because two moves are involved rather than one. But it should let construction move forward faster.
Entergy has committed to delivering a plan to temporarily relocate Pole #1 (in the photo above) by end of day today.
Weather permitting, Entergy also plans to actually relocate its wires on Poles #2 and #3 by 6/28/24 – next Friday. Entergy would then top its old poles. That would let BrightSpeed remove its cable. And then Primoris could remove the old poles.
Union Pacific Sets Meeting on Crossing Signals
Meanwhile, Union Pacific (UP) has set a meeting for July 9 to talk about relocating its crossing signals. It’s a firm deadline, according to De Leon, the TIRZ’s project manager for Northpark Expansion.
Unexpected delays by any party in this ballet of corporate behemoths could create a domino effect that could push the Northpark project back into next year. Or even force cancellation.
Blockage #3: Transformer At Exxon
Meanwhile, at the Exxon Station near US59, Entergy also has a transformer that must be moved farther back from the roadway. See red circle below. The distance has to do, in part, with line-of-sight issues for motorists. Its height means that it could block the view of motorists entering or leaving the roadway.
But working around the transformer presents serious construction problems. The wires leading to/from it are not up to code, according to De Leon.
He says that the City building code calls for underground wiring to be encased in steel. But the wiring in this area is not. That could jeopardize the safety of heavy equipment operators working to expand Northpark in this area.
Garcia disagrees. He says all of their equipment and lines meet or exceed all applicable building codes.
Several weeks ago, a contractor for the TIRZ did some exploratory hydro-excavation as part of its due diligence for the roadway expansion project. The contractor found Entergy wires that were exposed, not encased like De Leon says they should have been.
De Leon shared this photo in the June TIRZ board meeting. He says it creates a major safety issue for construction workers near the transformer. According to him, the workers could be electrocuted if, for instance, the bucket of an excavator accidentally cut one of the wires.
Garcia says Entergy crews will move the transformer. But De Leon and his contractors are concerned about what could happen if they encounter similar wires as they work in the same general area.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/21/2024
2488 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Alberto, First Named Storm of Season, Lashes Mexico, South TX
6/19/24 – Potential Tropical Cyclone #1 just became Tropical Storm Alberto, according to the National Hurricane Center’s (NHC) 10 AM update. Alberto will reach the coast of northeast Mexico early tomorrow morning.
Texas Impacts from Alberto
Until then, the entire Texas Coast up to San Luis Pass is under a tropical storm warning. Residents can expect heavy rains, coastal flooding and gusty winds through Thursday.
NHC expects Alberto to weaken quickly once it comes ashore early Thursday. The storm is moving at 9 miles per hour with maximum sustained winds of 40 MPH. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 415 miles north of the center.
Peak storm surge will reach 2-4 feet along the upper Texas Coast and Galveston Bay.
Rainfall Still Ratcheting Down
Rainfall predictions continue to ratchet down, however, especially for the Houston area as Alberto is pushed south by higher pressure from the northeast U.S.
Alberto should produce 5 to 10 inches of rainfall across northeast Mexico into South Texas. Maximum totals around 20 inches are possible. This rainfall will likely produce considerable flash and urban flooding along with new and renewed river flooding.
NHC will produce more advisories on Alberto at 1 and 4 PM today.
Make Alberto a Learning Experience
If you have kids home from school looking for something to do, this is an excellent chance to teach them about tropical cyclones.
NHC offers dozens of educational resources geared toward students from K-12 all the way up to continuing education for weather professionals. Harness your child’s natural curiosity while storms are in the news.
I found NHC’s course on Hurricane Basics very informative. Before Alberto became Alberto, it had winds strong enough to qualify as a tropical storm, but NHC kept calling it a potential tropical cyclone instead. Do you know the other attributes that define tropical cyclones? Hurricane Basics tells you.
Want to know what it takes to get a tropical cyclone started?
What affects their intensity?
Or how various factors come together to produce more or less rainfall?
NHC describes each of the factors above and provides clear, simple illustrations that make them easy to understand.
This particular presentation also covers:
Trivia: By the way, NHC provides climate data, too. Did you know, for instance, that the first named storm of the season usually occurs on June 20th in the Atlantic Basin. This year, the first named storm occurred on June 19.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/19/24
2486 Days since Hurricane Harvey