USA and Mexico – Floods From Storm Hanna Hit Texas Coast and Northern Mexico

Hurricane Hanna made landfall in southern Texas as a Category 1 system on 25 July 2020. The storm weakened as it moved west but brought torrential rainfall to parts of northern Mexico where 2 people have died and 6 are missing.

Texas

In South Texas, winds of up to 90 mph (145 km/h) caused power outages for 200,000 people. Initial reports suggest Hanna dumped up to 6 inches 152 mm) of rain in some areas from 24 to 26 July.

Heavy rain and storm surge combined to cause some flooding along the Texas coast near Corpus Christi. NWS Corpus Christi said “Hanna’s turn to the southwest before landfall spared the region from even heavier rains and flash flooding”.

Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater aircrew conducts an overflight of areas impacted by Hurricane Hanna near Corpus Christi, Texas, July 26, 2020. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Sydney Phoenix
Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater aircrew conducts an overflight of areas impacted by Hurricane Hanna near Corpus Christi, Texas, July 26, 2020. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Sydney Phoenix

Mexico

Mexico’s disaster management authority, Centro Nacional de Prevención de Desastres (CENAPRED) reported on 27 July that Hanna had caused considerable material damage, mainly in the states of Tamaulipas, Coahuila and Nuevo León.

The meteorological service Servicio Meteorológico Nacional reported 533mm of rain in 24 hours to 27 July in Monterrey in Nuevo León. During the same period, Sabinas in Tamaulipas saw 210 mm and Candela in Coahuila 87 mm. The previous day Río Bravo in Tamaulipas recorded 167.6 mm of rain.

Local media reported at least 2 people have died and 6 are missing after heavy rain triggered severe flooding, in particular in Monterrey in Nuevo León.

Two people died after their vehicle was swept away by flood waters in Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila. Three people were reported missing in floods in Monterrey and 3 others in Reynosa, Tamaulipas. A hospital in Reynosa, Tamaulipas was flooded prompting some evacuations.

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