Office of Emergency Management
Galveston County
Zeta is making its way into the Gulf of Mexico now, where it is expected to restrengthen into a hurricane. Locally, the storm is mainly expected to increase winds and seas over the coastal Gulf waters. Here's the latest from @NHC_Atlantic pic.twitter.com/QdR0XlswtX
— NWS Houston (@NWSHouston) October 27, 2020
Tropical Storm Zeta is a good reminder that hurricane season is not over. If you're in the path of the storm, make sure…
Posted by FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency on Monday, October 26, 2020
Emergency managers along the Jersey Shore are trying to prepare for the challenges of testing and social distancing if the shore needs to evacuate for a hurricane during the coronavirus pandemic. In Galveston County, Texas, they’ve had to do it twice this year. Meteorologist Joe Martucci talks with Scott Tafuri, Emergency Management Coordinator for the county, and a Jersey native, on their experiences.
Current Hazards
Overview
As of 4 AM CDT, Hurricane Delta was located in the south central Gulf of Mexico moving to the northwest as a Category 2 hurricane (max winds 100 mph). It will turn to the north-northwest later this evening, then to the north and northeast on Friday. Landfall is still expected to be in southwestern Louisiana Friday afternoon.
As of now, the greatest hazards from Delta for our area will be coastal flooding (1 to 3 feet) generally north of San Luis Pass, including around Galveston Bay and across the Bolivar Peninsula, and tropical storm-force winds with gusts up to 60 mph in the waters and along the southeastern portion of the area. Hurricane Delta will also produce minor to moderate coastal flooding south of San Luis Pass and around Matagorda Bay, shoreline erosion, and strong rip currents. Seas from 10 to 15 feet are expected with occasional seas around 22 feet far offshore. Locally heavy rain will be possible in the outer rainbands that move through the eastern portion of the area on Friday. Significant impacts are not anticipated in the far inland and western portions of the area.
Conditions will begin to deteriorate as early as this evening and will continue through Friday. Weather conditions will gradually improve by Friday evening. Regarding confidence levels, confidence remains medium to high that a turn to the north-northeast will occur by Friday. This would keep the worst conditions to our east.
