Humberto Dumps Rain As New Threat Grows

By Martin Merzer, The Miami Herald

Sep. 13–Tropical Storm Humberto rolled along the Texas coast and an Atlantic system stood on the brink of becoming Tropical Storm Ingrid late Wednesday — a busy day during the statistically busiest part of the hurricane season.

Humberto drenched already sodden northeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana, where forecasters warned of more heavy rain, 65-mph wind, high seas and significant flooding along the coast and inland.

The other system gathered itself in the far Atlantic, about 1,000 miles from the outer Caribbean islands and more than 2,000 miles from Florida.

The five-day forecast, subject to a wide margin of error, carried that storm on a northwest course that could allow it to avoid the Caribbean, but also pointed in the general direction of the Bahamas — though still quite far away by Monday.

Its track could change as the days pass, with the storm curving out to sea or back toward the Caribbean. In addition, its future strength was in some doubt.

Hostile crosswinds should weaken during the next couple of days, “which should allow for some strengthening,” said hurricane specialist Dan Brown of the National Hurricane Center in West Miami-Dade County.

The system’s sustained winds were predicted to exceed the tropical-storm threshold of 39 mph by early today and build to 65 mph by Sunday.

But then, crosswinds from a different direction and a burst of dry air could diminish the chances of its winds reaching hurricane strength of 74 mph at least through Monday, forecasters said.

Back along the Gulf of Mexico, Humberto strengthened steadily Wednesday night, but its proximity to land limited its future growth prospects.

Still, forecasters predicted five to 10 inches of rain along portions of the Texas coast and in southwestern Louisiana, with some areas receiving as many as 15 inches.

Worse, Humberto’s remnants might linger for days over the Gulf Coast, where they “could present a prolonged rainfall threat,” said hurricane specialist James Franklin.

Texas has had one of the wettest summers on record, The Associated Press reported, with Houston soaked under the most rain it has had in a summer since 1942. With the ground already saturated, flooding seemed likely.

Along coastal Texas, Brazoria County Sheriff Charles Wagner said residents of low-lying areas could have serious problems. Humberto could “put water into a lot of houses,” he told The AP.

The busiest part of the hurricane season tends to occur during mid-September, with Sept. 10 the statistical high point — or low point, depending on your perspective.

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