Wind and waves became increasingly worse along the mid- and upper Texas coast Friday, and conditions will get even meaner Friday night. Those still on the barrier islands are risking their lives to do so. When the biggest part of the storm surge arrives overnight, the water level will be 16 to 20 feet above normal tide level, which is plenty high enough to put the islands underwater.
In Houston, fierce winds gusting as high as 100 miles per hour will cause major structural damage, take out power and knock out windows of high-rise buildings. Serious flooding will also hit.
In the eastern quadrant of the storm, we expect numerous tornadoes across Louisiana and all of eastern Texas. A few could become EF 3 storms, which are capable of considerable damage.
Ike will quickly lose its hurricane-force winds after landfall, but wind damage can reach as far north as Oklahoma. The biggest problem from Dallas northward is going to be very heavy rainfall on the order of 4 to 8 inches.
Though not a severe buzz saw type of hurricane, Ike is a massive storm, and its harmful impacts will be far-reaching.
Story by AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist John Kocet.
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