The latest from the National Weather Service:
Special Weather Statement MONTAGUE-COOKE-GRAYSON-FANNIN-LAMAR- YOUNG-JACK-WISE-DENTON-COLLIN- HUNT- DELTA-HOPKINS-STEPHENS-PALO PINTO- PARKER-TARRANT-DALLAS- ROCKWALL- KAUFMAN-VAN ZANDT-RAINS-EASTLAND-ERATH- HOOD-SOMERVELL- JOHNSON-ELLIS- HENDERSON-COMANCHE-MILLS-HAMILTON- BOSQUE-HILL- NAVARRO-FREESTONE- ANDERSON-LAMPASAS-CORYELL-BELL- MCLENNAN-FALLS- LIMESTONE-LEON-MILAM- ROBERTSON- 412 PM CDT WED SEP 10 2008 ...HURRICANE IKE WILL SUBSTANTIALLY IMPACT NORTH TEXAS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY... HURRICANE IKE WILL MAKE LANDFALL ALONG THE MIDDLE TEXAS COAST DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS SATURDAY. THE HURRICANE WILL MOVE QUICKLY NORTH... GENERALLY ALONG THE INTERSTATE 35 CORRIDOR OVER THE WEEKEND. AT THIS TIME...IKE IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN TO TROPICAL STORM STRENGTH BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON AS THE SYSTEM MOVES INTO CENTRAL TEXAS. BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON... REMNANTS OF IKE WILL BE NORTH OF THE RED RIVER. WHILE THE STORM WILL BE WEAKENING AS IT MOVES ACROSS NORTH TEXAS... SUBSTANTIAL IMPACTS ARE LIKELY. WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINFALL OF 4 OR MORE INCHES...STRONG WINDS...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE ANTICIPATED. ADDITIONALLY...ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE NEAR AND TO THE EAST OF THE TRACK OF THE CENTER OF THE STORM. ...WIND IMPACTS... ALL OF NORTH TEXAS WILL EXPERIENCE STRONG WINDS AS A RESULT OF IKE. OVER CENTRAL TEXAS...INCLUDING THE WACO/TEMPLE/KILLEEN AREAS... SUSTAINED WINDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH WITH GUSTS TO HURRICANE FORCE ARE POSSIBLE SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY. FURTHER NORTH...SUSTAINED WINDS OF 40 MPH OR HIGHER ARE EXPECTED WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH ACROSS THE INTERSTATE 20 CORRIDOR...INCLUDING THE DALLAS/FORT WORTH METROPLEX LATE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. HIGH RISE BUILDINGS MAY EXPERIENCE EVEN STRONGER WINDS AT ROOFTOP LEVEL. CITIZENS AND THOSE WITH INTERESTS ACROSS NORTH TEXAS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR POWER OUTAGES AND TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO SECURE OUTDOOR MATERIALS AND BELONGINGS THAT ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO STRONG WINDS. ...HEAVY RAINFALL AND FLOODING IMPACTS... WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINFALL OF 4 INCHES IS LIKELY LATE SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY WITH LOCALIZED AMOUNTS TO NEAR 8 INCHES POSSIBLE. THE WIDESPREAD AND HEAVY NATURE OF THE RAIN WILL LEAD TO RAPID RISES ON RIVERS...STREAMS...AND CREEKS WITH FLOODING LIKELY. ...TORNADO THREAT... ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE NEAR AND TO THE EAST OF THE CENTER OF IKE AS IT MOVES ACROSS NORTH TEXAS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS FROM IKE WILL DEPEND ON THE EXACT TRACK AND SPEED OF MOVEMENT. THE STRONGEST WINDS AND GREATEST CHANCES FOR VERY HEAVY RAINFALL AND TORNADOES TYPICALLY OCCUR TO THE EAST OF THE CENTER OF THE STORM. MORE SPECIFIC DETAILS ON THESE IMPACTS WILL BE PROVIDED IN LATER FORECASTS. Confidentiality Note: This email and any attachment to it are confidential and protected by law and intended for the use of the individual(s) or entity named on the email. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination or distribution of this communication is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender via return email and delete it completely from your email system. If you have printed a copy of the email, please destroy it immediately. Thank you
