I have been watching this for hours and it is a beautiful hurricane in terms of its circulation at the same website stated by Mike.
I have been going though local forecasts from Galveston including current reports. I have found out that some buoys have been damaged / destroyed. The storm surge seems to be 15 feet but could reach 18 feet. However, some instruments appear to be destroyed or not operating so I cannot see all the data.
It was a direct hit on Galveston but the damage seems to be significant. I think the authorities are furious because in addition to 40% of the population staying in Galveston being some 20,000 residents who disregarded the warnings to leave, there have been some 2,300 urgent calls for help on 911. There might be a higher death toll than the 2 reported so far but that is still to unfold.
On CNN I read a report that electricity has been knocked out to 1.8 million customers in Houston. Ike came ashore on Galveston Island as a Category 2 and started to come ashore at 4.25 pm (AEST) right on Galveston. It had winds at that time of 110 MPH.
Although a weather statement at Galveston right at the time of landfall stated:-
THE NATIONAL OCEAN SURFACE STATION AT GALVESTON PLEASURE PIER RECENTLY REPORTED A WIND GUST OF 85 MPH OR 137 KM / HR.
That occurred just minutes before landfall and the highest wind gust report that I could find at that time. The eye was beginning to cross Galveston Island by 4.25 pm (AEST).
I managed to get into a web site with breaking storeys taken 7.30 PM AEST and USA Today plus other updates at:-
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/hurricane/2008-09-13-hurricane-ike-texas_N.htmEvents are unfolding and includes:-
- Ike whipped into Galveston after 3 am.
- As night fell Friday, 911 operators were besieged by pleas for help but it was too late.
- At 5 am, the Hurricane was located 25 miles east of Houston (The eye was over the eastern suburbs of the city).
- Late Friday, waves were crashing over the seawall in Galveston and 300 people had to be rescued.
- There is also a curfew in the city.
- A bulk carrier is languishing after breaking down off Galveston but the 22 on board still cannot be rescued.
- The storm has shut down 97% of oil production and 94% of gas production in the Gulf of Mexico.
- The Port of Houston has been closed.
Full analysis and interactive reading, weather reports, updates, photos, satellite photos and updates from the SPC can be found at that web site stated.
There are numerous early photos of water and inundation of areas of Galveston.
I was reading on another site a statement from insurers that fortell a possible damage bill as high as $25 Billion. It is being regarded as the first major strike on a major US city since Katrina in 2005. Insurers do not like this one especially with around $1 Trillion worth of property insured around Houston. Watch this one and see what it does to the USA economy.
Harley Pearman
