Dolly lashes Gulf Coast
Published:Wednesday | July 23, 2008 | 2:07 PM
Hurricane Dolly has strengthened to a Category 2 storm with winds near 100 miles per hour and is reportedly now lashing the Gulf Coast near the United States Mexico border.
The National Hurricane Center said the eye of the storm should hit land early in the afternoon.
The storm, which is the second of the Atlantic hurricane season, was earlier centered 30 miles east of Brownsville, Texas, moving northwest at 7 miles per hour.
A category 2 storm is defined as having sustained winds from 96 to 110 miles per hour.
The Miami based National Hurricane Centre said Dolly is expected to produce from 6 to 10 inches of rain, with up to 15 inches in some isolated spots.
It said widespread flooding is also likely.
They centre has also predicted coastal storm surges of 4 to 6 feet above normal tides.
Texas Governor Rick Perry has issued a disaster declaration for 14 counties, which will allow the state to initiate necessary preparedness efforts.