Houston on surprise hurricane watch for Tuesday

04 August 2008 13:31  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--Houston residents awoke to a surprise hurricane alert early on Monday, after a minor storm in the Gulf of Mexico strengthened over the weekend and headed for the heart of the US petrochemical industry.

Forecasts called for Tropical Storm Edouard to make landfall on Tuesday around 07:00 Houston time (12:00 GMT), with the city of Galveston and the Houston Ship Channel in the centre of its likely path.

Edouard might strengthen to a category 1 hurricane as it comes ashore, with wind speeds of up to 80 miles/hour (129 km/hour) and rainfall of 2-6 inches (51-152mm), forecasts said.

The storm is currently offshore the mouth of the Mississippi river.

Television news broadcasts reported that if Edouard remains no worse than a category 1 hurricane threat, petrochemical plants would likely continue to operate as they ride out the storm.

But the region can expect flooding and electrical power outages, the reports added.

Officials for Harris County, which includes most of the Houston area, called on residents to fill their vehicles with gasoline and to make preparations for the storm.

National Hurricane Center reports
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By: Stephen Burns
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