Hurricane Bret Headed For Texas Coast...08/21/99

This bulletin just in from the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Bret is now considered a dangerous category four hurricane threatening the coasts of Texas and northern Mexico.

Hurricane warnings are in effect from la pesca Mexico to Port O'Connor Texas.

A tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch is in effect along the Texas coast from east of Port O'Connor to Freeport. A hurricane watch remains in effect from La Pesca southward to Tuxpan Mexico. At 12 am CDT hurricane Bret was centered near latitude 25.4 north...longitude 95.3 west or about 135 miles East-Southeast of Brownsville Texas. Bret is moving toward the North-Northwest near 10 mph. A gradual turn to the northwest and west with a decrease in forward Speed is expected within the next 6 to 12 hours.

However, if this turn does not materialize soon, hurricane warnings will have to be extended northeastward along the Texas coast. Residents and local officials will need to be ready to take quick actions. Maximum sustained winds are near 135 mph with higher gusts. Bret is a dangerous category four hurricane on the Saffir/Simpson hurricane scale. Some fluctuations in intensity are likely during the next 24 hours. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 100 miles.