Tropical Storm Harold Brought Heavy Rain, Strong Winds To South Texas (Recap)

T​ropical Storm Harold delivered drought-helping rainfall and gusty winds to South Texas in August 2023.

Tropical Depression Nine formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Aug. 21 and then strengthened into Tropical Storm Harold the next morning. The center of Harold pushed ashore along Padre Island, Texas, at 10 a.m. CDT. on Aug. 22.

H​arold produced more than 5 inches of rain in the Corpus Christi area, the National Weather Service reported. Radar estimated 7 inches of rain in parts of northwest Nueces and Jim Wells Counties.

L​oyola Beach had a wind gust to 67 mph and Corpus Christi saw wind gusts up to 65 mph.

H​arold was the ninth storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, over three weeks ahead of the average season pace, according to the National Hurricane Center. It was also the fourth Atlantic tropical storm to form in 39 hours, following Emily, Franklin and Gert. It was the fastest time on record four Atlantic named storms formed, according to tropical scientist Phil Klotzbach.

The name Harold replaced Harvey when that notorious hurricane was retired from future use in the six-year rotation of Atlantic names for tropical storms and hurricanes.

C​oincidentally, Harold's landfall location was just 70 miles farther south along the Texas coast than Harvey's first landfall in August 2017. And it was almost six years to the date after Harvey first crashed ashore.

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