HOUSTON, July 22, 2008 - TODAY AND TONIGHT OUTER RAINBANDS FROM STRENGTHENING TROPICAL STORM DOLLY WILL WORK THEIR WAY WESTWARD ACROSS MAINLY THE SOUTHERN HALF OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. EXPECT RAINFALL AMOUNTS TO AVERAGE 1/2 TO 1 INCH WITH ISOLATED 1 TO 2 INCH TOTALS POSSIBLE WHERE ANY RAINBAND TRAINING SETS UP. CONDITIONS IN THE MARINE AREA SHOULD DETERIORATE THROUGH THE DAY AS EASTERLY WINDS INCREASE AND SEAS BUILD. ALTHOUGH CONDITIONS ALONG THE BEACH SHOULD BE FAIRLY BENIGN THIS MORNING...SURF WILL BE BUILDING THROUGH THE DAY AND THE RISK OF STRONG RIP CURRENTS WILL INCREASE. RECREATIONAL BOATING AND SWIMMING IN THE COASTAL WATERS IS DISCOURAGED. TIDE LEVELS WILL ALSO BE ON THEIR WAY UP AND A COASTAL FLOOD WATCH MAY BE REQUIRED LATER TODAY AS WATER LEVELS MAY APPROACH 4 FEET BY HIGH TIDE ON WEDNESDAY MORNING.

WEDNESDAY DOLLY IS EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN INTO A HURRICANE AND MOVE INLAND AROUND THE BROWNSVILLE AREA AROUND MIDDAY ON WEDNESDAY. HIGHEST RAIN CHANCES AND STRONGEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE ACROSS THE COASTAL WATERS AND INLAND LOCATIONS MAINLY SOUTH OF A LINE FROM ROMAYOR TO THE WOODLANDS TO COLUMBUS WITH THE MOST INTENSE ACTIVITY IN AND AROUND THE MATAGORDA BAY AREA. RAINFALL AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED TO AVERAGE 1 TO 3 INCHES WITH 3 TO 5 INCH TOTALS POSSIBLE IN AND AROUND THE MATAGORDA BAY AREA OR IN ASSOCIATION WITH ANY OUTER RAINBANDS THAT TRAIN OVER THE AREA. IF DOLLY MAKES LANDFALL FURTHER SOUTH THAN EXPECTED...LOWER RAINFALL TOTALS AND WEAKER WINDS CAN BE EXPECTED. STRONG RIP CURRENTS CAN BE EXPECTED WITH TIDE LEVELS APPROACHING 4 FEET IN THE MORNING.

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