Tropical Storm Hermine, moving rapidly toward the South Texas coastline, is expected to cause higher-than-normal tides and minor flooding to low-lying areas of Galveston County Monday evening through Tuesday afternoon. Significant amounts of widely-scattered rain also are in the forecast through Wednesday or Thursday of this week.
Portions of Highway 87 on Bolivar Peninsula, particularly the stretch between Rollover Pass and High Island, are likely to be under water when high tide arrives late this evening. The elevated tide will then recede in the morning before rising again by Tuesday afternoon, forecasters predict.
The Texas Department of Transportation has equipment in place to close the highway when it is no longer safe for motorists.
Hermine, which developed quickly from a tropical depression into a tropical storm early Monday, could make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane south of Brownsville this evening.
It is not unusual for storms to develop rapidly in the steamy Gulf of Mexico waters. Hurricane Humberto formed in less than 24 hours – nearly the fastest on record – before making landfall at High Island in 2007. Hurricane Alicia reached Category 3 strength in less than three days before making landfall on Galveston’s west end in 1983.

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