HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK

HOUSTON, March 17, 2008 - TONIGHT STRONG SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS AROUND 40 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED TODAY AND TONIGHT ALONG THE COAST. ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS WILL BEGIN TO AFFECT THE COAST TONIGHT. REFER TO THE LATEST MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT FOR MORE DETAILS.

TUESDAY THERE IS A THREAT OF SEVERE STORMS AND HEAVY RAINFALL ON TUESDAY AS A STRONG UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS THE STATE. THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL INCREASE DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON TUESDAY AND CONTINUE INTO THE LATE AFTERNOON. THE VERY STRONG WINDS...ABUNDANT MOISTURE...LIFT FROM THE APPROACHING STORM SYSTEM...AND EVENTUALLY THE COLD FRONT WILL LEAD TO THE POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING INTO A SQUALL LINE. THREATS WILL RANGE FROM ISOLATED TORNADOES AND LARGE HAIL AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT...TRANSITIONING OVER TO DAMAGING WINDS WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE SQUALL LINE. THE MAIN THREAT PERIOD WILL BE BETWEEN MID MORNING TO LATE AFTERNOON. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH WIDESPREAD AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES LIKELY AND ISOLATED ACCUMULATIONS UP TO 4 INCHES POSSIBLE.

MINOR COASTAL FLOODING IS POSSIBLE AT HIGH TIDE TIMES DUE TO ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS. THIS WILL TRANSLATE TO ABOUT 2 FEET ABOVE NORMAL ACROSS BEACH FRONT AREAS AND 2 TO 3 FEET ABOVE NORMAL ALONG THE BAY SHORE LINES.

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