Dolly be Bad! Hurricane Update

McAllen--2 p.m. July 23, 2008

The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is reporting that Hurricane Dolly is likely to drop 8--12 inches of rain in the Rio Grande Valley.

Updates can be found at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/231658.shtml

CNN and other national stations are reporting that wind speed maximums are 100 MPH. That's only half-true. That's the highest wind speeds reported thus far. It's not like a hurricane can't decide to blow harder, Category notwithstanding. MSNBC is interviewing the mayor of Corpus Christi, 125 miles north of Brownsville, who reports funnel cloud activity and tons of rain.

Dolly finally crossed--or is crossing over South Padre Island and the eye wall is near land, but there has been no official landfall--in the mainland.

A KRGV-TV news vehicle (or perhaps a private one belonging to the cameraman) had its door blown away when the reporter, Stephanie Stone was asked by the news anchors to try to open the door to take a peek outside.

About 37 people had to be evacuted in Laguna Vista and Laguna Heights area, KRGV-TV reports.

In McAllen we are seeing relative calm, but some gusts had the rain falling at a 45-degree angle for several minutes about 20 minutes ago. Still relatively calm, and not pouring rain just now.

Landfall is expected near Port Mansfield--where Hurricane Allen hit land as well, in 1980.

NOAA's National Hurricane Center (National Weather Service Advisory #13: "...DOLLY HESITATES...EYEWALL OF DOLLY CROSSING SOUTH PADRE ISLAND..."

"DOLLY HAS BEEN MEANDERING FOR THE PAST HOUR OR SO BUT IT SHOULDBEGIN TO MOVE TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 7 MPH...11 KM/HR SOON. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE EYE OF HURRICANE DOLLY WILL BE CROSSINGTHE COAST ALONG THE SOUTHERN TEXAS COAST IN A COUPLE OF HOURS.PERSONS ARE ADVISED NOT TO VENTURE OUTDOORS DURING THE RELATIVECALM OF THE EYE BECAUSE WINDS WILL SOON INCREASE QUITE RAPIDLY.MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 100 MPH...160 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. "