Hurricane conditions to hit Valley despite storm shifting south

McALLEN — The center of Hurricane Alex has shifted south of the Rio Grande Valley, but weather experts said the area should still prepare for heavy rain and gale-force winds.

Dennis Feltgen, a Miami-based spokesman for the National Hurricane Center, said as of 9 a.m. Wednesday it appeared Hurricane Alex would make landfall in northeast Mexico. The size of the storm, however, would batter the Valley with severe weather conditions.

“Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security and say the core of the storm is going to the south of us,” Feltgen said. “A hurricane is not a dot on a map. This is a large storm with a large impact.”

Winds could gust between 40 and 75 miles per hour, and about six to 12 inches of rain will be common in South Texas. These weather conditions will worsen throughout the day and continue through Thursday.

Flooding presents the biggest threat, and some sections of the Valley may see 20 inches of rain, said Joseph Tomaselli, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Brownsville.

The eye of the storm will make landfall about 100 miles south of Brownsville at approximately 1 a.m. Thursday, Tomaselli said. Hurricane Dolly, which struck the Valley in 2008, passed directly through South Padre Island.

Hurricane Alex, however, could bring just as much rain as Dolly did, but the winds will probably not be as severe, Tomaselli said. By Thursday evening, weather conditions will likely improve. There is a 40 to 50 percent chance of rain Saturday and Sunday.

The most dangerous winds will blow from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning. People should stay indoors and avoid driving, because winds could knock down power lines and tree branches.

Flooding is also likely, and Tomaselli said the flat landscape in the Valley means standing water is the biggest threat.

Zack Quaintance covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4447.