Fernand makes landfall in Mexico, will bring flood risk to southern Texas
A resident watched as waves associated with Hurricane Dorian, pounded the second story of their home in Freeport, Grand Bahama, on Sept. 2. At the beginning of the video, water can be seen sloshing around the first story, which appears to be completely underwater.
While Dorian will be the most powerful storm over the Atlantic basin the first part of this week, a mass of clouds, showers and thunderstorms over the western Gulf of Mexico recently gave birth to Tropical Storm Fernand, which moved onshore in Mexico during Wednesday midday, local time.
Tropical Depression Seven formed late Tuesday morning and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Fernand during Tuesday afternoon.
After making landfall, Fernand was downgraded to a tropical depression and eventually a tropical rainstorm.
This image, taken on Wednesday morning, Sept. 4, 2019, shows Fernand about to make landfall along the upper coast of eastern Mexico. (NOAA/GOES-East)
Fernand made landfall 35 miles north of La Pesca, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph around midday Wednesday.
Fernand will continue to bring downpours and gusty thunderstorms over the mountains of northeastern Mexico and part of South Texas even in its weakened state.
There is the likelihood of torrential rainfall in this area with urban flooding. A general 3-6 inches of rain is forecast with locally higher amounts to perhaps as much as 10 inches.
People should be prepared for rapid runoff that can lead to mudslides in the mountainous terrain of northern Mexico.
Never attempt to drive through flooded areas as the road may have been washed away beneath the water. The water may also be much deeper than it appears or may be rising rapidly. A foot or two of moving water is enough to wash vehicles downstream.
People should keep an eye out for rapidly changing weather conditions and seek shelter at the first sign of an approaching storm or squall.
Some shower and thunderstorm activity from the fringe of the large system can reach as far north as San Antonio. However, any drenching shower or gusty thunderstorm that far north will be brief into Thursday.
Bathers and boaters should expect rough surf and building seas in the region. Rip currents will be stronger and more frequent than average.
Besides Dorian and Fernand, AccuWeather meteorologists are closely monitoring several other tropical systems in the open Atlantic, including Tropical Storm Gabrielle.
Download the free AccuWeather app to stay alert of tropical and severe weather advisories. Keep checking back for updates on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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