Tropical storms batter Texas and Mexico

Tropical storm Bill formed over the Gulf of Mexico on Monday and made landfall in Texas on Tuesday. The formation of tropical storm Bill forced the National Hurricane Center in Miami to issue storm warnings from Baffin Bay till High Island, Texas. Currently tropical storm Bill is heading in northwesterly direction at a speed of 17 kmph. Bill is packing sustained wind speeds of about 95 kmph. The wind force is extending up to 240 km from the center of the storm. The storm is expected to change its course in the next few days.

Rainfall amounting to 100 to 200 mm is expected over eastern Texas and eastern Oklahoma, around 50 to 100 mm in western Arkansas and southern Missouri. There is a possibility that isolated areas could receive up to 300 mm of rainfall. There are also chances of storm surge and isolated tornadoes.

Also read: Hurricane Carlos continues to strengthen in the eastern Pacific

Meanwhile, hurricane Carlos continues to affect the Mexican coastline. Carlos is moving very slowly at a speed of just 7 kmph. The tropical storm is currently packing maximum sustained wind speeds of 120 kmph. Hurricane warnings have already been issued  in the surrounding areas. Carlos is expected to weaken gradually in the next two to three days. Carlos is expected to remain offshore but its damaging winds are likely to affect area from Puerto Vallarta to Manzanillo. Torrential rains and mudslides are possible in these areas in next two days. 

Image credit: telegraph.co.uk