Hurricane Harvey hits Texas ,USA with 130mph winds Friday Aug 25,2017

Hurricane Harvey has slammed into Texas as a monstrous Category 4 hurricane on Friday night Aug 25,2017, with winds of 130mph causing buildings to collapse, dozens to be injured and leaving more than 155,000 without power.

The hurricane hit shortly after 10pm local time, as waves flooded onto roads, roofs were sent flying into the air and residents in the storm's path were told to label themselves in case they died

 

Texas Governor Greg Abbott warned that Hurricane Harvey would be 'a major disaster' before the storm barreled into the state with violent winds and massive rainfall, all on top of storm surges up to 13 feet.

Trump signed a disaster proclamation from Camp David, tweeting: 'At the request of the Governor of Texas, I have signed the Disaster Proclamation, which unleashes the full force of government help!'

Harvey is the strongest storm to hit the US in 12 years and is expected to trigger 'catastrophic' floods, as the National Weather Service warned that this was the 'start of many difficult days to come'.

Note

Hurricane Harvey is the strongest tropical hurricane to make landfall in the United States after the category 5 Hurricane Wilma that ravaged Florida in 2005

Harvey is the eighth named Storm for the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season which formed near the Windward Islands on August 17. The hurricane impacted Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Martinique and Dominica on the same day. It accelerated westward as it approached Barbados around 8:00 pm at a speed of 18 mph (30km/h) and brought maximum sustained winds near 40 mph (65km/h) with higher gusts. NHC has predicted an increased wind speed of  140 miles per hour (225km/h) and 40 inches of rain (1 metre) as it makes landfall in Texas.

Hurricanes derive their energy from heated seawater which can be prevented by presence of upper-level-winds that disrupt the storm circulation forcing it to lose its strength.

Hurricane Rating

Hurricanes are rated on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale ranging between 1-5 based on the wind speed. 

Hurricanes categorised under 3 and above are considered major hurricanes as they cause severe damage to life and property in its route. 

Harvey which has now been upgraded to category 4 is the most powerful hurricane to make landfall in US after Wilma that occurred in 2005 in Florida.

 Harvey is the strongest hurricane to make impact in Texas after the 1961 Hurricane Carla.