9/19/20 – As an update related to Tropical Storm Beta:

• Attached are the slides from the 10:30 am NWS weather briefing.  This briefing can also be viewed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/NWSHouston
• Beta is still a tropical storm – it has not intensified overnight, although it could still become a weak hurricane
• Impacts for Fort Bend County include (NOTE: this is all dependent on the storm track, which is still uncertain):
  • Potential TS force winds starting overnight Sunday into early next week
  • Expect rainfall Monday through Wednesday with the highest chances of rain being Tuesday and Wednesday
  • Rainfall estimates are currently around 7+ inches of rain Monday through Wednesday
• Beta is a slow moving storm – this means that higher winds and rain could stick around for a couple of days early next week
• Beta is NOT like Harvey in that we do not have the moisture levels that were in place for Harvey (that was what caused so much rain)
• Again, all of our rivers, creeks, bayous, and reservoirs are in good shape (i.e. really low/near empty)
• If we do experience any flooding, it will likely be flash flooding on streets due rain – not river flooding
• There is still uncertainty in the forecast and track – stay tuned for future updates

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Hurricane Laura NWS Update

8/26/20: NWS says Laura is forecast to strengthen to a category 4 hurricane then make landfall as a major category 3 storm (120 mph) between Bolivar Peninsula and Cameron Parish, La tonight. Models are becoming tightly clustered near the track forecast. This will be a night storm so be alert and monitor the weather reports. There is a 50% chance that we could lose power.

8/25/20: Hurricane Laura will make landfall at the Texas Louisiana border as a category 3 hurricane. High winds of up to 40 to 50 mph could develop and we should start to get winds Wednesday afternoon. Please secure items in your yard that could be picked up by the wind. Do not park your car under large trees. The City of Weston Lakes Emergency Management will be posting updates twice daily or as major changes happen.

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Busy Atlantic hurricane season predicted for 2020

Multiple climate factors indicate above-normal activity is most likely Weatherhurricane seasonclimate outlooks.

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May 21, 2020

An above-normal 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is expected, according to forecasters with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. The outlook predicts a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season and only a 10% chance of a below-normal season. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a likely range of 13 to 19 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 6 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). NOAA provides these ranges with a 70% confidence. An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, of which 6 become hurricanes, including 3 major hurricanes. [Watch this video summary of the Outlook.]

A summary infographic showing hurricane season probability and numbers of named storms predicted from NOAA’s 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook.Download Image

“As Americans focus their attention on a safe and healthy reopening of our country, it remains critically important that we also remember to make the necessary preparations for the upcoming hurricane season,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “Just as in years past, NOAA experts will stay ahead of developing hurricanes and tropical storms and provide the forecasts and warnings we depend on to stay safe.”

The combination of several climate factors is driving the strong likelihood for above-normal activity in the Atlantic this year. El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions are expected to either remain neutral or to trend toward La Nina, meaning there will not be an El Nino present to suppress hurricane activity. Also, warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, coupled with reduced vertical wind shear, weaker tropical Atlantic trade winds, and an enhanced west African monsoon all increase the likelihood for an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. Similar conditions have been producing more active seasons since the current high-activity era began in 1995.

“NOAA’s analysis of current and seasonal atmospheric conditions reveals a recipe for an active Atlantic hurricane season this year,” said Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., acting NOAA administrator. “Our skilled forecasters, coupled with upgrades to our computer models and observing technologies, will provide accurate and timely forecasts to protect life and property.” 

This year, as during any hurricane season, the men and women of NOAA remain ready to provide the life-saving forecasts and warnings that the public rely on. And as storms show signs of developing, NOAA hurricane hunter aircraft will be prepared to collect valuable data for our forecasters and computer models.

In addition to this high level of science and service, NOAA is also launching new upgrades to products and tools that will further improve critical services during the hurricane season. 

NOAA will upgrade the hurricane-specific Hurricane Weather Research and Forecast system (HWRF) and the Hurricanes in a Multi-scale Ocean coupled Non-hydrostatic model (HMON) models this summer. HWRF will incorporate new data from satellites and radar from NOAA’s coastal Doppler data network to help produce better forecasts of hurricane track and intensity during the critical watch and warning time frame. HMON will undergo enhancements to include higher resolution, improved physics, and coupling with ocean models. 

As the hurricane season gets underway, NOAA will begin feeding data from the COSMIC-2 satellites into weather models to help track hurricane intensity and boost forecast accuracy. COSMIC-2 provides data about air temperature, pressure and humidity in the tropical regions of Earth — precisely where hurricane and tropical storm systems form.

Also during the 2020 hurricane season, NOAA and the U.S. Navy will deploy a fleet of autonomous diving hurricane gliders to observe conditions in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea in areas where hurricanes have historically traveled and intensified.

A summary graphic showing an alphabetical list of the 2020 Atlantic tropical cyclone names as selected by the World Meteorological Organization. The first named storm of the season, Arthur, occurred in earlier in May before the NOAA’s outlook was announced. The official start of the Atlantic hurricane season is June 1 and runs through November 30.Download Image

As with every hurricane season, the need to be prepared is critically important this year.

“Social distancing and other CDC guidance to keep you safe from COVID-19 may impact the disaster preparedness plan you had in place, including what is in your go-kit, evacuation routes, shelters and more. With tornado season at its peak, hurricane season around the corner, and flooding, earthquakes and wildfires a risk year-round, it is time to revise and adjust your emergency plan now,” said Carlos Castillo, acting deputy administrator for resilience at FEMA. “Natural disasters won’t wait, so I encourage you to keep COVID-19 in mind when revising or making your plan for you and your loved ones, and don’t forget your pets. An easy way to start is to download the FEMA app today.”

In addition to the Atlantic hurricane season outlook, NOAA also issued seasonal hurricane outlooks for the eastern and central Pacific basins.

NOAA’s outlook is for overall seasonal activity and is not a landfall forecast. The Climate Prediction Center will update the 2020 Atlantic seasonal outlook in August prior to the historical peak of the season. 

Hurricane preparedness is critically important for the 2020 hurricane season, just as it is every year. Keep in mind, you may need to adjust any preparedness actions based on the latest health and safety guidelines from the CDC and your local officials. Visit the National Hurricane Center’s website at hurricanes.gov throughout the season to stay current on any watches and warnings.

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Be a Force of Nature

Each year, people in this country are killed or seriously injured by all types of extreme weather, despite advance warning.

NOAA’s Weather-Ready Nation initiative is about building community resilience in the face of increasing vulnerability to extreme weather and water events.  As part of the Weather-Ready Nation initiative, NOAA, along with partners such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), wants to motivate individuals and communities to take actions that will prepare them in the event of a weather disaster and to share their preparedness steps with others. These actions can save lives anywhere – at home, in schools, and in the workplace before tornadoes, hurricanes, and other extreme types of weather strike.

However, NOAA and its partners can’t do it alone. A key member of the team is the public. That is why we are encouraging everyone to do their part.  We ask everyone to
“Be a Force of Nature”. 

Be a Force of Nature by knowing your risk, taking action and being an example in your community.

Know your risk: Hurricanes, droughts, tornadoes, snowstorms, flooding – severe weather impacts every part of the country. The first step to becoming weather-ready is to understand the type of hazardous weather that can affect where you live and work, and how the weather could impact you and your family.

Just for kids! Have little ones at home? Teach them about the weather with Owlie Skywarn. Play a free, online game where you go on a severe weather preparedness adventure and earn a Young Meteorologists Certificate.

What you can do:

1. Bookmark weather.gov to get the latest forecast information.
2. Follow the National Weather Service on Facebook and Twitter.
3. Read the State of the Climate reports to discover historical trends.

Take action:

Be Force of Nature by making sure that you and your family are prepared for severe weather. This includes creating a disaster supplies kit and making sure that you can receive emergency messages.
What you can do:

1. Obtain a NOAA Weather Radio.
2. Learn about Wireless Emergency Alerts.
3. Create a disaster supplies kit.

Be an example:

Be a positive influence on your community by sharing your weather preparedness story. Be a Force of Nature by letting your friends and family know what you did to become weather-ready.
What you can do:

1. Tweet that you’re prepared with the hashtag #BeAForce
2. Share your preparedness story on Facebook.
3. Make sure you have a Family Emergency Plan.

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The NOAA/NWS National Hurricane Center posted this video on YouTube.
Their primary target audience was for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders but the
video is still informative.

There is a series of videos for Texas as
well as other states.