…Heavy Rain and Isolated Severe Storms Possible Friday Through Sunday…
Timing and Overview:
A long duration heavy rainfall event is shaping up for portions of South Texas this weekend, beginning Friday Afternoon and persisting through Sunday, and possibly Monday before ending. Periods of showers and thunderstorms can be expected each day. Locally heavy rainfall will be possible as well as a threat for isolated Severe Storms. The heaviest rains are expected to fall across the Coastal Bend generally east of Interstate 37 where totals of 3 to 6 inches of rainfall will possible by the end of the event on Monday. Lesser amounts are expected out west where 1 to 2 inches are possible.
Storms exiting northeast Mexico Friday evening will move across the brush country and southern Coastal Bend during the overnight hours Friday Night . Some of these storms could be severe with large hail, damaging winds and an isolated tornado or two. This focus for Severe Weather is expected to shift eastward over the Coastal Bend on Saturday, generally east of Interstate 37. Some models are indicating the threat for Isolated severe storms will continue on Sunday as well depending on whether the cold front moves off the coast or remains over land. South Texas Impacts:
Tornadoes: A few tornadoes are possible.
Winds: Damaging winds of 60 mph or greater. Hail: Large Hail (one inch diameter or greater) Rainfall: Widespread amounts of 1 to 2 inches across the Brush County (including Laredo & Cotulla), 3 to locally 6 inches across the Coastal Bend (including Corpus Christi, Rockport, Victoria & Port Lavaca) Minor street flooding possible. The West Gulf River Forecast Center indicated minor flooding will also possible on area creeks and rivers.
Confidence increasing for a large flood event across the region.
Changes:
1. Forecast rainfall amounts of widespread 2-4 inches with isolated 8-10 inches. Heavy rains mainly north Saturday shifting south Sunday.
2. Severe thunderstorm threat mainly near the coast Saturday.
3. Coastal Flood Advisory in Effect: Forecast tide levels 3.5 to near 4 feet during high tide Friday evening and Saturday.
Synopsis:
A slow moving strong upper level low coupled with a coastal trough of low pressure will produce widespread rain with periods of showers and thunderstorms. Storms may form bands and train over the same areas.
When:
Friday night through Monday morning with the bulk of the heaviest rain mainly north Friday night and Saturday shifting southward Saturday night and Sunday through through Monday afternoon.
Hazards:
Friday and Saturday: Locally heavy rainfall and lightning mainly north of a Columbus to Conroe to Livingston line. Thunderstorms with Isolated tornadoes possible near the coast beginning Saturday morning. Coastal flooding, elevated tide levels, enhanced currents and rip currents possible.
Saturday night through Monday: Heavy rainfall threat still high and shifting southward and may see clusters/bands of slower moving storms, frequent lightning. Severe threat (tornadoes/damaging winds) returns Sunday night/Monday morning near the coast.
Widespread rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are expected with locally heavier totals of 8 to 10 inches inches possible. Heavy rainfall Saturday will likely saturate the soils and additional heavy rainfall Saturday night through A Flash Flood Watch will likely be issued this afternoon.
Tides:
Moderate easterly flow will continue through early Saturday. Tides will become elevated and some minor coastal flooding is possible Friday night and again Saturday night along the Bolivar peninsula. A Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect from Friday afternoon through Saturday morning.
Kent Prochazka & Melissa Huffman
National Weather Service
Houston/Galveston
…A Heavy Rainfall Pattern Expected Over South Central Texas for the Next Several Days…
Area of Concern:
Along and East of I-35.
Threats & Impacts:
Rainfall: 2 to 5 inches with isolated amounts over 6 inches possible.
Timing and Overview:
An upper level low pressure system will move slowly across northern Mexico and Texas today through Monday, with persistent rains expected through the period. Most of the rain is expected to be light to moderate today through Sunday with some brief heavy downpours of 1 to 2 inches possible Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon. The storm system could produce more widespread heavy downpours Sunday night into early Monday as the upper low begins to cross Texas. Soil moisture conditions are not expected to be conducive to flooding initially, but there is a potential for flooding by Sunday night. Areas generally east of I-35 are expected to see the heaviest rainfall and possible flooding.
Confidence:
Moderate
Low Flood Impacts:
Several locations may experience minor flooding with flood waters capable of causing small streams, creeks, canals, and ditches to become swollen and overflow in a few places, but with little to no property damage. Quick ponding of water occurs at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor drainage areas. Storm drains and retention ponds become near-full and begin to overflow in a few places. Flood waters may prompt brief road closures.
A series of cold fronts will bring chances of showers and thunderstorms Friday and Sunday through Monday night. Otherwise, fair weather and near to slightly above normal temperatures are expected Thanksgiving Day through Monday.
Here’s your TTR Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend Weather forecast –
Tonight
Cooler…clear. Lows in the upper 40s. North winds 5 mph.
Thanksgiving Day
Mostly sunny in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 70s. East winds 5 mph
.
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy before midnight…then mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the mid 50s. Northeast winds 5 mph.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers. Highs in the lower 70s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night Through Saturday Night
Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the lower 70s.
Sunday And Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers. Highs in the mid 70s. Lows 54 to 64.
WASHINGTON, November 21, 2016 – This week millions of Americans will gather family and friends around the dinner table to give thanks. But for those preparing the meal, it can be a stressful time. Not to mention, for many it is the largest meal they have cooked all year, leaving plenty of room for mistakes that could cause foodborne illness.
“Unsafe handling and undercooking of food can lead to serious foodborne illness,” said Al Almanza, Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). “Turkeys may contain Salmonella and Campylobacter, harmful pathogens that are only destroyed by properly preparing and cooking the turkey. Similarly, leaving leftovers out for too long, or not taking care to properly clean cooking and serving surfaces, can lead to other types of illness. We want to be sure that all consumers know the steps they can take and resources that are available to them to help prepare a safe and enjoyable holiday meal. ”
To avoid making everyone at the table sick, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) offers five tips for a food safe Thanksgiving:
Tip 1: Don’t Wash That Turkey.
According to the most recent Food Safety Survey, conducted by the Food and Drug Administration, 68 percent of the public washes whole turkey before cooking it. USDA does not recommend washing raw meat and poultry before cooking. Washing raw meat and poultry can cause bacteria to spread up to three feet away. Cooking (baking, broiling, boiling, frying or grilling) meat and poultry to the right temperature kills any bacteria that may be present, so washing meat and poultry is not necessary.
Tip 2: Use the refrigerator, the cold-water method or the microwave to defrost a frozen turkey.
There are three safe ways to defrost a turkey: in the refrigerator, in cold water and in the microwave oven. Thawing food in the refrigerator is the safest method because the turkey will defrost at a consistent, safe temperature. It will take 24 hours for every 5 pounds of weight for a turkey to thaw in the refrigerator. To thaw in cold water, submerge the bird in its original wrapper in cold tap water, changing the water every 30 minutes. For instructions on microwave defrosting, refer to your microwave’s owner’s manual. Cold water and microwave thawing can also be used if your bird did not entirely defrost in the refrigerator.
Tip 3: Use a meat thermometer.
The only way to determine if a turkey (or any meat, poultry or seafood) is cooked is to check its internal temperature with a food thermometer. A whole turkey should be checked in three locations: the innermost part of the thigh, the innermost part of the wing and the thickest part of the breast. Your thermometer should register 165°F in all three of these places. The juices rarely run clear at this temperature, and when they do the bird is often overcooked. Using the food thermometer is the best way to ensure your turkey is cooked, but not overdone.
Tip 4: Don’t store food outside, even if it’s cold.
Storing food outside is not food safe for two reasons. The first is that animals, both wild and domesticated, can get into food stored outside, consuming it or contaminating it. The second is temperature variation. Just like your car gets warm in the summer, a plastic food storage container in the sun can heat up and climb into the danger zone (above 40°F). The best way to keep that extra Thanksgiving food at a safe temperature (below 40°F) is in a cooler with ice.
Tip 5: Leftovers are good in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Cut the turkey off the bone and refrigerate it as soon as you can, within 2 hours of the turkey coming out of the oven. Leftovers will last for four days in the refrigerator, so if you know you won’t use them right away, pack them into freezer bags or airtight containers and freeze. For best quality, use your leftover turkey within four months. After that, the leftovers will still be safe, but can dry out or lose flavor.
Want additional food safety tips?
If you have questions about your Thanksgiving dinner, you can call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) to talk to a food safety expert. Last November they answered more than 3,000 calls about Thanksgiving dinner. You can also chat live with a food safety expert at AskKaren.gov, available from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, in English and Spanish.
If you need help on Thanksgiving Day, the Meat and Poultry Hotline is available from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET.
Consumers with food safety questions can visit FoodSafety.gov to learn more about how to safely select, thaw and prepare a turkey. For more Thanksgiving food safety tips, follow FSIS on Twitter, @USDAFoodSafety, or on Facebook, at Facebook.com/FoodSafety.gov.
