This by no means makes Houston clear. Rather with a 50-mile-wide eye, areas from Katy, Texas to Mont Belview are likely to see hurricane force winds and perhaps even further out. The winds here have really picked up and I’d estimate them to be at least 40mph with gusts to 55mph. I can hear objects rattling around outside. There is at least a 150-foot-tall major power tower behind my apartment. Thankfully, for now, it is downwind. Please, if it falls, let it be the other way…
There is a major issue coming up that I don’t think many are aware of. In the northern parts of Harris County into Montgomery county and further north, it is forestry with at least 150-foot-tall pine trees standing tall over million dollar homes. Galveston may get the brunt. But don’t be surprised if out of all the stories you hear come tomorrow are about cities such as Kingwood, Humble, Conroe, or The Woodlands.
Still no rain but radar shows a small feeder racing this way. Likely to see our first hurricane gusts in that band.
There have also been a lot of fires in Galveston. Latest reports are some fires are being set by a blown transformer that fell on one house which caught fire. That, in turn, sent sparks to the next house which caught fire, etc., etc. Firefighters cannot put the fire out due to storm surge blocking their routes.
Sadly, Ike’s first US casualty came from Montgomery county; a man was trying to trim a dead tree in his yard when the tree fell and killed his 10-year-old son. Just shows these things hit you in more ways than wind, rain and surge.
BTW, also added a picture of tonight’s sunset to the Hurricane Ike Image Gallery. A faded sun shining through the overcast clouds of an oncoming hurricane makes for an eery sight.
