Wind gusts over 100 mph recorded in Port Lavaca

[JetMaxx]

Here's the LSR from the NWS office in Corpus Christi...

http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KCRP/0307151556.nwus54.html

Gusts to 100+ at the EOC in Port Lavaca....88 mph sustained; and 104 mph gust at a plant in Point Comfort.

Keep in mind this occurred in the west eyewall. My estimate in the north eyewall....that passed over towns such as Matagorda and Palacios experienced gusts in the 110-120 mph range. Claudette is a small compact hurricane, and thus will have gusts higher than normally experienced in a 979-981 mb hurricane.

The ASOS station in Palacious hasn't reported in several hours...and I think I know why (damaged or loss of power). I honestly expect to see considerable damage from that area....Palacios eastward across southern Matagorda county south of Bay City....equivalent to a low end F2 tornado.

Keep an eye on the anemometer at Victoria. They will soon experience the north eyewall of weakening Claudette. Don't be surprised to see gusts of 90-100 mph there.

PW

[WidreMann]

Gusts are already up to around 70 at Victoria. The sustained winds are 52 mph, which is up from 35 just an hour and a half ago.

[JetMaxx]

Here's another LSR....winds gusted to 96 mph southwest of Port Lavaca (Dow Chemicals)....there are reports of extensive damage in the Port Lavaca area and across Calhoun, southern Jackson, Refugio, and Matagorda counties; including a high school in Port Lavaca and several downtown structures (per WSFO CRP).

http://kamala.cod.edu/tx/latest.nwus54.KCRP.html

[JetMaxx]

Here's the LSR detailing initial damage reports in Port Lavaca:
http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KCRP/0307151729.nwus54.html

[Lindaloo]

Perry, any damage reports coming out of Palacios yet?

[WidreMann]

Code: Select all

0126 PM    VICTORIA                  TX   HURRICANE                 
07/15/03   VICTORIA            ASOS RECORDED WINDS GUSTING
                                          TO 83 MPH. RELAYED BY HAM
                                          RADIO. PHONE LINES ARE
                                          DOWN.

That is, I imagine, why there haven't been any new reports out of Victoria since 1:30.

[JetMaxx]

I'm almost certain there is quite a bit of damage in the Palacios area Lindaloo. They were in the very worst part of this hurricane.

I just spoke to a friend of mine in Beeville, Texas. He's an amateur radio buff, and has heard unconfirmed reports of 115 mph gusts near the town of Matagorda and a 90+ mph gust in Victoria. It won't surprise me to learn peak gusts in the Palacios area were 105-110 mph...possibly even higher.

Claudette really seemed to tighten up as she made landfall...just like Andrew did (eyewall became more intense).

[KatDaddy]

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
255 PM CDT TUE JUL 15 2003

CORRECTION FROM JACKSON COUNTY TO CALHOUN COUNTY FOR PORT ALTO EVENT

TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....

1110 AM 12 NE PORT LAVACA TX HURRICANE
07/15/03 CALHOUN EVERY STRUTURE DAMAGED IN
PORT ALTO.


1110 AM PORT LAVACA TX HURRICANE
07/15/03 CALHOUN PORT LAVACA HIGH SCHOOL GYM
ROOF GONE.


1120 AM SEADRIFT TX HURRICANE
07/15/03 CALHOUN MEASURED WINDS OF 97 MPH
WITH GUST TO 111 MPH.

[Lindaloo]

Thanks Perry. If the phone lines are down in Victoria, I am sure they are down in Palacios too. I have still not heard anything. Thinking about trying to get in touch with the police down there to find out anything. I am sure the police station has an emergency backup of some kind.

[wx247]

"1110 AM 12 NE PORT LAVACA TX HURRICANE
07/15/03 CALHOUN EVERY STRUTURE DAMAGED IN
PORT ALTO. "

I think this pretty much says it all. I have been watching from my mother's house all day long on CNN, FNC, and MSNBC (which IMO had better coverage than TWC). My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in that area.

[Colin]

I think that might be the most impressive gust out of this storm...Probably got some nasty damage around that area. :o