Hurricane Watches issued for eastern and northern coasts of the Yucatan peninsula.
(Sunday 8am, October 25, 2020) The tropical depression over the northwestern Caribbean Sea has continued to slowly become better organized. Satellite and hurricane hunter aircraft have determined that winds increased to near 40kts. Overall Zeta has not moved much in the last 12 hours. However, Zeta should approach the Gulf Coast Tuesday night or Wednesday. It will bring storm surge, rainfall and wind impacts from Louisiana to the Florida panhandle. The storm poses no immediate threat to the Houston Area.
Track
Zeta will have little forward motion for the next 12 hours; steering flow is weak. However, on Monday mid-level high pressure will begin to build westward letting Zeta turn NW and WNW, and to increase forward motion. Global model guidance is in good agreement on this track. Zeta will then enter the southern Gulf of Mexico. A strong cold front will push south and east across the Great Plains by mid-week. and turn Zeta north and likely northeast toward the central or eastern US Gulf coast. However, much uncertainty exists on how sharply Zeta will turn. The storm could make landfall anywhere from Louisiana to the Florida panhandle.
Intensity
Overall Zeta is in a favorable environment for development. Zeta could approach hurricane intensity as it nears the Yucatan. Once in the Gulf of Mexico conditions continue to look favorable for intensification. Zeta will likely regain or maintain hurricane intensity.
However, as Zeta begins to turn northward toward the central Gulf, cooler sea surface temperatures and increasing vertical wind shear should weaken the system. No one knows at present how quickly weakening may occur.
A slight chance exists that tropical storm force winds could extend into areas east of Houston and Galveston Bay.
NOAA/NESDIS/STAR GOES ABI BAND 13 shows Zeta’s intensity building in the NW Caribbean.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/25/2020 based on information from Jeff Lindner, HCFCD, and the National Hurricane Center
1153 Days after Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/image002.png?fit=897%2C736&ssl=1736897adminadmin2020-10-25 09:51:202020-10-25 10:01:47It’s Official; Zeta, Yet Another Tropical Storm Forms
The tropical wave in the NW Caribbean that I posted about this morning has become better organized. It now has a broad low-level center southwest of the Cayman Islands. Low- and mid-level centers are currently not aligned, but conditions favor eventual alignment. There are numerous curved bands and weak to moderate scattered convection near the low level center.
Like so many other storms this season, this one should veer east before it hits Houston. TD 28 will move into the southern Gulf of Mexico by early next week. But an approaching cold front over TX will turn it toward the east. Major global models agree on the track with the exception of the European model which brings it in over Louisiana. This model has had a significant west bias this hurricane season with Laura, Sally, and Delta. Other models take it toward the central or eastern US Gulf coast from SC LA to the FL panhandle.
Intensity
Conditions are favorable for development with plenty of moisture and warm sea-surface conditions. NHC forecasts a hurricane in the southern Gulf of Mexico by Tuesday. After Tuesday, it may weaken as the system lifts northward over the Gulf of Mexico. Similar to Delta, with an incoming trough from the west, an expansion of the wind field will be possible over the northern Gulf of Mexico.
Afternoon satellite image on 10/24/2020NOAA/NESDIS/STAR GOES ABI BAND 13 shows intensity.
Threats
The system should approach the northern Gulf Coast as a tropical storm on Wednesday, and could bring storm surge, rainfall, and wind impacts to areas from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle. Residents in these areas should monitor the progress of the depression and updates to the forecast.
Posted by Bob Rehak at 5 pm on 10/24/2020 based on info from HCFCD and the NHC
1152 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/image001-4.png?fit=897%2C736&ssl=1736897adminadmin2020-10-24 17:16:162020-10-24 17:16:21Tropical Depression Forms over NW Caribbean; Threatens U.S. Gulf
The Great Lakes dredge that liberated River Grove Park from a sandbar more than 10 feet high and a quarter mile long.
The company has many other interests in the Houston Area and the central Gulf Coast from Corpus Christi to Louisiana. The move puts the company closer to key customers and growing markets, especially along the Gulf Coast and Mississippi River. The company already has regional offices in Jacksonville, FL and Staten Island, New York.
The company deepens ports, maintains waterways, renourishes beaches and restores barrier islands.
About the Houston HQ
The Houston headquarters, scheduled to open in early 2021 with its executive leadership team, will be staffed gradually over the next 12 months. It is initially searching for 20,000 square feet of office space in the Energy Corridor, between the Galleria and Beltway 8. The company will maintain a business and operations support center in the Oak Brook area.
The company said the move also will allow it to leverage long-term relationships with the Center for Dredging Studies at Texas A&M University, Louisiana State University and other universities that feature coastal resilience and natural infrastructure initiatives.
Landmark Projects Throughout US
Great Lakes has been involved in the development and construction of many well-known landmarks. In the Great Lakes’ region, that has included Chicago’s Navy Pier and Michigan Avenue Bridge; straightening and reversing the flow of the Chicago River; Northerly Island, a 91-acre peninsula along Chicago’s Lake Michigan; and the deepening the St. Lawrence Seaway between the U.S. and Canada.
Elsewhere, it has completed deepening projects in almost every port in the country and worked on important infrastructure projects, such as the massive container terminals in the ports of Los Angles and Long Beach and the Fort McHenry Tunnel that carries interstate traffic underneath the Baltimore Harbor.
Recent Texas and Louisiana Projects
Among its recent projects in Texas and neighboring states: deepening the Corpus Christi Ship Channel from the Gulf of Mexico to Harbor Island; maintenance dredging of Houston Ship Channel; dredging for liquefied natural gas facilities in Corpus Christi and Cameron Parish, La.; restoring Louisiana’s Whiskey Island, which helps protect Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes from storm surge; restoring barrier islands to protect coastal Mississippi; and building the barrier berms that protected Louisiana from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Works in Almost Every Port in County
Elsewhere, it has completed deepening projects in almost every port in the country and worked on important infrastructure projects, such as the massive container terminals in the ports of Los Angles and Long Beach and the Fort McHenry Tunnel that carries interstate traffic underneath the Baltimore Harbor.
The company is the largest provider of dredging services in the US. It has a fleet of more than 200 vessels.
Welcome to Houston!
It will be good to have such a valuable resource in Houston. Especially as sediment builds up in our rivers and lakes to the point where it can no longer be ignored. Great Lakes’ expanded presence will make the Houston dredging market even more competitive.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/SJR_288_016.jpg?fit=1800%2C824&ssl=18241800adminadmin2020-10-24 16:28:592020-10-24 16:30:13Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Moving Corporate HQ to Houston From Chicago
It’s Official; Zeta, Yet Another Tropical Storm Forms
Hurricane Watches issued for eastern and northern coasts of the Yucatan peninsula.
(Sunday 8am, October 25, 2020) The tropical depression over the northwestern Caribbean Sea has continued to slowly become better organized. Satellite and hurricane hunter aircraft have determined that winds increased to near 40kts. Overall Zeta has not moved much in the last 12 hours. However, Zeta should approach the Gulf Coast Tuesday night or Wednesday. It will bring storm surge, rainfall and wind impacts from Louisiana to the Florida panhandle. The storm poses no immediate threat to the Houston Area.
Track
Zeta will have little forward motion for the next 12 hours; steering flow is weak. However, on Monday mid-level high pressure will begin to build westward letting Zeta turn NW and WNW, and to increase forward motion. Global model guidance is in good agreement on this track. Zeta will then enter the southern Gulf of Mexico. A strong cold front will push south and east across the Great Plains by mid-week. and turn Zeta north and likely northeast toward the central or eastern US Gulf coast. However, much uncertainty exists on how sharply Zeta will turn. The storm could make landfall anywhere from Louisiana to the Florida panhandle.
Intensity
Overall Zeta is in a favorable environment for development. Zeta could approach hurricane intensity as it nears the Yucatan. Once in the Gulf of Mexico conditions continue to look favorable for intensification. Zeta will likely regain or maintain hurricane intensity.
However, as Zeta begins to turn northward toward the central Gulf, cooler sea surface temperatures and increasing vertical wind shear should weaken the system. No one knows at present how quickly weakening may occur.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/25/2020 based on information from Jeff Lindner, HCFCD, and the National Hurricane Center
1153 Days after Hurricane Harvey
Tropical Depression Forms over NW Caribbean; Threatens U.S. Gulf
The tropical wave in the NW Caribbean that I posted about this morning has become better organized. It now has a broad low-level center southwest of the Cayman Islands. Low- and mid-level centers are currently not aligned, but conditions favor eventual alignment. There are numerous curved bands and weak to moderate scattered convection near the low level center.
Track
Like so many other storms this season, this one should veer east before it hits Houston. TD 28 will move into the southern Gulf of Mexico by early next week. But an approaching cold front over TX will turn it toward the east. Major global models agree on the track with the exception of the European model which brings it in over Louisiana. This model has had a significant west bias this hurricane season with Laura, Sally, and Delta. Other models take it toward the central or eastern US Gulf coast from SC LA to the FL panhandle.
Intensity
Conditions are favorable for development with plenty of moisture and warm sea-surface conditions. NHC forecasts a hurricane in the southern Gulf of Mexico by Tuesday. After Tuesday, it may weaken as the system lifts northward over the Gulf of Mexico. Similar to Delta, with an incoming trough from the west, an expansion of the wind field will be possible over the northern Gulf of Mexico.
Threats
The system should approach the northern Gulf Coast as a tropical storm on Wednesday, and could bring storm surge, rainfall, and wind impacts to areas from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle. Residents in these areas should monitor the progress of the depression and updates to the forecast.
At the present, this is not a threat to Texas. For up to the minute information, visit the National Hurricane Center.
Posted by Bob Rehak at 5 pm on 10/24/2020 based on info from HCFCD and the NHC
1152 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Moving Corporate HQ to Houston From Chicago
Great Lakes Dredge and Dock is moving its corporate headquarters to Houston from Oak Brook, Illinois. Oak Brook is a western suburb of Chicago.
Company that Dredged West Fork
Great Lakes spent more than a year dredging the San Jacinto West Fork in 2018 and 2019 for the Army Corps of Engineers.
The company has many other interests in the Houston Area and the central Gulf Coast from Corpus Christi to Louisiana. The move puts the company closer to key customers and growing markets, especially along the Gulf Coast and Mississippi River. The company already has regional offices in Jacksonville, FL and Staten Island, New York.
About the Houston HQ
The Houston headquarters, scheduled to open in early 2021 with its executive leadership team, will be staffed gradually over the next 12 months. It is initially searching for 20,000 square feet of office space in the Energy Corridor, between the Galleria and Beltway 8. The company will maintain a business and operations support center in the Oak Brook area.
The company said the move also will allow it to leverage long-term relationships with the Center for Dredging Studies at Texas A&M University, Louisiana State University and other universities that feature coastal resilience and natural infrastructure initiatives.
Landmark Projects Throughout US
Great Lakes has been involved in the development and construction of many well-known landmarks. In the Great Lakes’ region, that has included Chicago’s Navy Pier and Michigan Avenue Bridge; straightening and reversing the flow of the Chicago River; Northerly Island, a 91-acre peninsula along Chicago’s Lake Michigan; and the deepening the St. Lawrence Seaway between the U.S. and Canada.
Elsewhere, it has completed deepening projects in almost every port in the country and worked on important infrastructure projects, such as the massive container terminals in the ports of Los Angles and Long Beach and the Fort McHenry Tunnel that carries interstate traffic underneath the Baltimore Harbor.
Recent Texas and Louisiana Projects
Among its recent projects in Texas and neighboring states: deepening the Corpus Christi Ship Channel from the Gulf of Mexico to Harbor Island; maintenance dredging of Houston Ship Channel; dredging for liquefied natural gas facilities in Corpus Christi and Cameron Parish, La.; restoring Louisiana’s Whiskey Island, which helps protect Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes from storm surge; restoring barrier islands to protect coastal Mississippi; and building the barrier berms that protected Louisiana from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Works in Almost Every Port in County
Elsewhere, it has completed deepening projects in almost every port in the country and worked on important infrastructure projects, such as the massive container terminals in the ports of Los Angles and Long Beach and the Fort McHenry Tunnel that carries interstate traffic underneath the Baltimore Harbor.
The company is the largest provider of dredging services in the US. It has a fleet of more than 200 vessels.
Welcome to Houston!
It will be good to have such a valuable resource in Houston. Especially as sediment builds up in our rivers and lakes to the point where it can no longer be ignored. Great Lakes’ expanded presence will make the Houston dredging market even more competitive.
For more information on Great Lakes Dredge and Dock, visit their website.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/24/2020
1152 Days since Hurricane Harvey