Information from The Associated Press

UPDATE: THURSDAY 7/24/2008 2PM
South Texas begins cleanup after Hurricane Dolly
HARLINGEN, Texas (AP) - Residents across south Texas slogged through knee-deep muddy waters, tiptoed around downed power lines and dug through debris Thursday, but were thankful that Hurricane Dolly didn't pack the wallop they had feared.

Downed power lines remained the greatest danger, and South Texas officials urged people to stay home one more day "unless it's life or death." One person in Matamoros, Mexico, died from electrocution after walking past a power line on the ground.

Residents picked up the pieces of their houses and businesses blown apart by the storm. But as dry skies spread over the region, they were struck by relief that the storm didn't take many lives. Even so, there will be substantial cleanup: President Bush declared south Texas a disaster area to release federal funding to 15 counties, and insurance estimators put the losses at $750 million.

Rain and wind from Dolly probably doomed much of the cotton crop in Texas' Rio Grande Valley. About 92,000 acres of cotton in the region was awaiting harvest but driving rains and high winds knocked bolls to the ground, making them unsalvageable, Texas Agri Life Extension agent Rod Santa Ana said. Sorghum acres damaged by rain in early July also could be doomed, he said.

After crashing ashore on South Padre Island midday Wednesday, Dolly meandered north, leaving towns on the northern tip of the Rio Grande Valley with a surprise. Officials had feared the Rio Grande levees would breach, but the storm veered from its predicted path and they held strong.

The storm dumped as much as a foot of rain in places and brought 100 mph winds. Those winds had dropped by half Thursday morning, and forecasters canceled the tropical storm warning for the Texas coast by late morning. The storm was expected to break up by Friday, and was centered about 30 miles northwest of Laredo with maximum sustained winds of around 40 mph at 2 p.m. EDT.

A remnant on Thursday blew several roofs off houses and businesses on San Antonio's south side, about 300 miles northwest of where the storm made landfall. There were no immediate reports of injuries, and the National Weather Service sent a storm survey team to determine whether it was a tornado or strong winds.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry was scheduled to fly over the region with U.S. Sen. John Cornyn Thursday afternoon.

Down by the U.S.-Mexico border in Brownsville, the city that expected the worst had some of the least to fear.

Residents in the Cameron Park colonia cleared their yards of shingles and tree debris while mosquitoes feasted. But homes were still standing, and residents were thankful the damage wasn't so bad.

On South Padre Island, which endured the worst of Dolly's wrath, power could be out for another day, said town spokeswoman Melissa Zamora. A 9 p.m. curfew was set for the second night in row, and the National Guard and FEMA were distributing ice, water and food. Residents and visitors recalled a wild ride.

Across the Rio Grande in Matamoros, Mexico, power was restored to large parts of Brownsville's sister city, and Tamaulipas Gov. Eugenio Hernandez said the lights would be on by the end of the day.

Gas stations and factories reopened as about 2,500 police and soldiers patrolled to prevent looting while many of the 13,000 people who had taken shelter returned home.

During the course of the storm, authorities rescued about 30 families from high water in Cameron County and power, including to the 911 emergency call system, remained out to about 60 percent of customers in Hidalgo County.

The last hurricane to hit the U.S. was the fast-forming Humberto, which came ashore in southeast Texas last September.

The busiest part of the Atlantic hurricane season is usually in August and September. So far this year, there have been four named storms, two of which became hurricanes. Federal forecasters predict a total of 12 to 16 named storms and six to nine hurricanes this season.

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UPDATE: THURSDAY 7/24/2008 11AM
South Texas gets first look at Dolly's damage
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) - Residents and recovery teams began fanning out across south Texas Thursday and cars crept along roads with darkened stoplights as the region got its first look at the destruction left by Hurricane Dolly.

Traffic picked up on local roads littered with debris as people emerged for the first time in more than 24 hours after Dolly's soaking rains and punishing winds. After crashing ashore on South Padre Island, the storm ripped roofs from homes, flooded roads and downed power lines, but the Rio Grande levees officials had feared could breach held strong.

In Brownsville's Cameron Park colonia, residents were clearing their yards of shingles and tree debris while mosquitoes feasted. But homes were still standing, and residents were thankful the damage wasn't as bad as they feared.

Hurricane Dolly slammed ashore as a Category 2 hurricane midday Wednesday and then loitered over deep south Texas as a tropical storm, dumping as much as a foot of rain in places and bringing 100 mph winds. Those winds had dropped by half Thursday morning, and forecasters said the tropical storm warning for the Texas coast would likely be canceled later in the morning. The storm was expected to break up by Friday.

By 11 a.m. EDT, the tropical storm was centered near Laredo with maximum sustained winds of around 45 mph.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry declared 14 south Texas counties disaster areas and sought federal disaster declarations, and was scheduled to fly over the region Thursday afternoon.

While the rain set records in Brownsville's Cameron County - ranging from six to 12 inches with another three to seven expected overnight - they did not appear to pose the threat to the Rio Grande's levees that had been feared.

The river rose steadily through the day in Brownsville, but did not reach flood stage.

By Wednesday afternoon, the community of Laureles north of Los Fresnos had been reduced to a chain of sunken islands, separated from the main roads by floodwaters of two feet or more in places.

The busiest part of the Atlantic hurricane season is usually in August and September. So far this year, there have been four named storms, two of which became hurricanes. Federal forecasters predict a total of 12 to 16 named storms and six to nine hurricanes this season.


UPDATE: WEDNESDAY 7/23/2008 11PM
Dolly weakens to tropical storm
MIAMI (AP) — Forecasters say Dolly has weakened to a tropical storm.

At 11 p.m. EDT Wednesday, the center of the storm was about 55 miles northwest of Brownsville, Texas. The storm is moving west near 7 miles per hour.

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center expect it turn back to the west-northwest Thursday, with a slight increase in forward speed until it dissipates Friday.

The maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph. Dolly is expected to continue weakening as it moves farther inland. It may become a tropical depression by late Thursday.

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UPDATE: WEDNESDAY 7/23/2008 8PM
Hurricane Dolly weakens inland at South Texas
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) - Hurricane Dolly barreled into South Texas on Wednesday, lashing the coast with winds up to 100 mph and dumping heavy rain that threatened to flood low-lying areas but spared levees along the heavily populated Rio Grande Valley.

Authorities had feared the first hurricane to hit the U.S. since last September could produce up to 20 inches of rain in some areas, possibly breaching levees in the heavily populated Rio Grande Valley. But shortly before coming ashore, the Category 2 storm meandered 35 miles north of the border, veering away from the flood walls.

Although the system weakened after striking land on the resort area of South Padre Island, one official cautioned that the danger had not passed.

Small communities just north of Brownsville were taking the brunt of the storm, including low-lying colonias, small villages of immigrants who live without sewer and water service.

Most of the destruction was on the island, where the hurricane knocked out power to thousands of homes, ripped off roofs and smashed windows.

Roads and yards were strewn with toppled trees, fences, power poles and streetlights. Business signs rolled around the streets like tumbleweeds. The causeway linking the island to the mainland was closed.

In Mexico, soldiers made a last-minute attempt to rescue people at the mouth of the Rio Grande, using an inflatable raft to retrieve at least one family trapped in their home. Many people further inland refused to go to government shelters.

The roof of an apartment complex on South Padre Island partially collapsed, but residents said they didn't believe anybody was injured.

A 17-year-old boy fell from a seventh-story balcony, injuring his head, breaking his hip and fracturing his leg. The boy was being treated at an island fire station.

At 8 p.m. EDT Wednesday, the storm's center was about 60 miles northwest of Brownsville and moving west-northwest at about 10 mph. The storm's maximum sustained winds had weakened to about 75 mph. Forecasters expected to downgrade it to a tropical storm later Wednesday night.

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UPDATE: WEDNESDAY 7/23/2008 5PM
Hurricane Dolly makes landfall in South Texas
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) - Texas and Mexico narrowly avoided the big disaster officials had feared when Hurricane Dolly hit land Wednesday, but the rain-swollen storm delivered a flurry of smaller punches along a wide swath of the Gulf Coast.

Packing winds of 100 mph, the hurricane tore off roofs, toppled trees and power poles and sent business signs rolling like tumbleweeds in the resort area of South Padre Island, where it first made land. With up to 20 inches of rain expected in some areas, there was flooding on both sides of the border.

At 5 p.m. EDT Wednesday, the storm's center was about 50 miles north of Brownsville and moving northwest at about 8 mph. The storm's maximum sustained winds had weakened to about 85 mph. Over the next 24 hours, Dolly was expected to turn gradually to the west-northwest as it moves farther inland.

Dolly spawned thunderstorms as far away as Houston, 400 miles up the coast. Tornado watches were in effect for many coastal counties between Corpus Christi and Houston.

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UPDATE: WEDNESDAY 7/23/2008 3:30PM
Hurricane Dolly downgraded to Category 1 storm
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) - Forecasters say Hurricane Dolly has weakened to Category 1 storm with 95 mph winds as it moves inland over Texas.

The storm has forced thousands of people on both sides of the Texas-Mexico border into shelters. Heavy rains and high winds from the storm have collapsed an apartment roof, blown over signs and cut power to thousands of customers.

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UPDATE: WEDNESDAY 7/23/2008 12:30PM
Dolly hitting Tex-Mex border hard
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) - As the center of Hurricane Dolly spins toward the Texas-Mexico border -- as a Category-2 storm with 100 mile-an-hour winds -- the effects of its outer bands are already being felt.

Cities and counties in the Rio Grande Valley are bracing for massive flooding and levee breaks.

Mexican soldiers are making a last-minute attempt to rescue people at the mouth of the Rio Grande. They've been using an inflatable raft to rescue at least one family trapped in their home.

An emergency management official in Cameron County, Texas, says there are nearly 2,000 people in six shelters in the county. In Hidalgo County, a little bit farther inland, six shelters holding about 900 people are open. People living in low-lying areas are being encouraged to come to shelters.

Officials in Mexico plan to evacuate 23,000 people to government shelters.

In the Gulf, Shell has been taking workers off oil rigs.

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UPDATE: WEDNESDAY 7/23/2008 11AM
Dolly strengthens to Category 2 hurricane
MIAMI (AP) - Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami say Hurricane Dolly has strengthened to a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds near 100 mph.

The storm center is about 30 miles east-northeast of Brownsville, Texas.

The eye will cross the coast near the Texas/Mexico border in a few hours. People should stay inside during the relative calm of the eye because winds will soon increase quite rapidly.

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UPDATE: WEDNESDAY 7/23/2008 9AM
Hurricane Dolly front edge hits Texas-Mexico coast
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) - Hurricane Dolly strengthened early Wednesday as its leading edge lashed the Gulf Coast near the Texas-Mexico border with heavy rain and powerful winds.

The center of the Category 1 hurricane was expected to make landfall later Wednesday and dump up to 15 inches of rain, threatening flooding that could breach levees in the heavily populated Rio Grande valley.

Dolly, upgraded from a tropical storm Tuesday, had sustained winds of 95 mph, just short of becoming a Category 2 storm. At 9 a.m. EDT Wednesday, the storm's center was about 40 miles east of Brownsville, moving northwest at about 8 mph.

A hurricane warning was in effect for the coast of Texas from Brownsville to Corpus Christi and in Mexico from Rio San Fernando northward.

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UPDATE: WEDNESDAY 7/23/2008 7AM
Hurricane Dolly bears down on Texas-Mexico coast
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) - Hurricane Dolly's leading edge arrived on the Gulf Coast early Wednesday, packing heavy rain and powerful winds that could strengthen before the center of the storm hits towns straddling the Texas-Mexico border later in the day.

The Category 1 hurricane was expected to dump up to 15 inches of rain, threatening flooding that could breach levees in the heavily populated Rio Grande valley.

Dolly, upgraded from a tropical storm Tuesday, had sustained winds of 85 mph. At 7 a.m. EDT Wednesday, the storm's center was about 55 miles east of Brownsville, moving northwest at about 8 mph.

The National Hurricane Center said Dolly could approach Category 2 strength, meaning wind speeds of at least 96 mph, when it reaches the coastline later Wednesday.

A hurricane warning was in effect for the coast of Texas from Brownsville to Corpus Christi and in Mexico from Rio San Fernando northward.

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UPDATE: TUESDAY 7/22/2008 5PM
Forecasters: Dolly becomes a hurricane
MIAMI (AP) - Forecasters say Dolly has become a hurricane.

Dolly became a Category 1 hurricane Tuesday and some strengthening is forecast before landfall.

At 5 p.m. the center of hurricane Dolly was located about 165 miles east-southeast of Brownsville, Texas.

Dolly is moving toward the northwest near 10 mph. This motion should bring the core of Dolly near northeastern Mexico or extreme southern Texas on Wednesday.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75 mph.

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UPDATE: TUESDAY 7/22/2008 11AM
Storm nears hurricane strength
McALLEN, Texas (AP) - Tropical Storm Dolly is getting stronger and could reach hurricane strength later today or tomorrow.

As of 11 a.m. Eastern time, Dolly's winds were approaching hurricane strength at almost 70 miles per hour.

Hurricane warnings are in effect along parts of the Mexican coast and in Texas, from Brownsville north to Corpus Christi. A tropical storm warning has been issued from north of Corpus Christi to just south of Galveston.

Dolly is expected to bring high winds and as much as 15 inches of rain, along with a coastal storm surge of up to six feet above normal. The storm's center is expected near northern Mexico or extreme southern Texas tomorrow.

Texas is mobilizing National Guard troops to help, but officials say they won't order evacuations unless Dolly strengthens to Category 3. As far up the coast as the Houston area, they're telling residents to be ready in case the storm changes course and heads their way.

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UPDATE: TUESDAY 7/22/2008 8AM
Tropical Storm Dolly heads for Mexico, Texas
McALLEN, Texas (AP) - Texas mobilized National Guard troops and residents along the Gulf Coast near the Mexican border were buying plywood, flashlights and gasoline as Tropical Storm Dolly gained strength early Tuesday on its way to becoming a hurricane before it hits land.

Hurricane warnings were in effect for parts of the Texas and Mexico coasts, meaning hurricane conditions were expected in those areas by the end of Tuesday.

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Dolly's winds were expected to strengthen before landfall to hurricane force, which would mean at least 74 mph. Dolly was expected to make landfall late Tuesday or early Wednesday as a Category 1 hurricane and bring with it high winds and up to 15 inches of rain and coastal storm surge flooding of 4 to 6 feet above normal high tide levels.

At 8 a.m. EDT Tuesday, the center of Tropical Storm Dolly was located over the Gulf about 265 miles southeast of Brownsville. It was moving west-northwest at about 13 mph. Tropical storm-force winds extended outward up to 160 miles, and maximum sustained winds had increased to near 65 mph with higher gusts.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Cristobal was moving toward the northeast at about 21 mph, away from the U.S. Cristobal was located about 485 miles northeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C., with maximum sustained winds near 60 mph. Forecasters said the storm, which dumped rain on the coast of the Carolinas, was no longer an immediate threat to the U.S.

In the Pacific, Tropical Storm Genevieve strengthened slightly off Mexico's coast, but forecasters said the storm was not expected to threaten land. Tropical Storm Fausto, which had been a hurricane, also was weakening and moving out to sea.

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UPDATE: MONDAY 7/21/2008 5PM
Hurricane watch issued for parts of Texas, Mexico
MIAMI (AP) - A hurricane watch was issued for parts of the Texas and Mexico coasts as Tropical Storm Dolly entered the Gulf of Mexico.

The National Hurricane Center said Monday the watch in Texas extended from Brownsville north along the coast to Port O'Connor.

At 5 p.m., the center of the storm was about 420 miles east-southeast of the coast of the lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas and northeastern Mexico. Maximum sustained winds were near 50 mph.

A tropical storm watch was also in effect along parts of the Texas coast. Dolly was moving toward the west-northwest at about 18 mph.

Tropical Storm Cristobal was moving toward the northeast near 13 mph. Cristobal was located about 265 miles east-northeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C., with maximum sustained winds near 65 mph.

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UPDATE: MONDAY 7/21/2008 2PM
Hurricane watch issued for parts of Texas, Mexico
MIAMI (AP) - A hurricane watch was issued for parts of the Texas and Mexico coasts as Tropical Storm Dolly entered the Gulf of Mexico.

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Monday the watch in Texas extended from Brownsville north along the coast to Port O'Connor.

At about 2 p.m., the center of the storm was about 475 miles east-southeast of the Rio Grande Valley coast of South Texas and northeastern Mexico. Maximum sustained winds were near 50 mph.

A tropical storm watch was also in effect along parts of the Texas coast. Dolly was moving toward the west-northwest at about 18 mph.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Cristobal was moving northeast over the Atlantic after bringing weekend rain to the Carolinas.

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UPDATE: MONDAY 7/21/2008 11AM
Hurricane watch issued for parts of Texas, Mexico
MIAMI (AP) - A hurricane watch has been issued for parts of the Texas and Mexico coasts as Tropical Storm Dolly churns in the Gulf of Mexico.

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Monday that the watch in Texas extends from Brownsville to Port O'Connor. The government of Mexico also issued a hurricane watch from Rio San Fernando northward to the U.S. border.

At 11 a.m. EDT, the center of the storm was about 55 miles north-northeast of Progreso, Mexico. Maximum sustained winds were near 50 mph.

A tropical storm watch is also in effect on the Texas coast from north of Port O'Connor to San Luis Pass and from La Pesca, Mexico, northward to Rio San Fernando.

Dolly is moving toward the west-northwest near 18 mph.

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MONDAY 7/21/2008
Hurricane Fausto grows to category 2, Tropical Storm Dolly expected to strengthen
MIAMI (AP) - Hurricane Fausto has increased to a category 2 storm in the Pacific while Tropical Storm Dolly moves over Mexico's Yucatan peninsula and heads for the Gulf of Mexico.

Though Hurricane Fausto has increased in strength, the National Hurricane Center in Miami says the storm has probably reached its peak intensity and is expected to weaken during the next 24 hours. Fausto's maximum sustained winds are near 100 mph and the storm's center is 405 miles west-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Dolly is expected to strengthen as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico and could become a hurricane on Tuesday. Its winds are near 50 mph.

Also in the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Cristobal continues to move northeast, away from the U.S. coast.


(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)