Millions brace as Hurricane Harvey menaces Texas

Hurricane Harvey intensified early on Aug. 25, spinning into potentially the biggest hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland in more than a decade, with life-threatening floods expected along the Gulf Coast. 

Hurricane Harvey grew into a category 2 storm with winds of 105 mph (169 kph) as it moved northwest about 355 km off Corpus Christi, Texas, the National Hurricane Center said in an advisory. It's forecast to make landfall late Aug. 25 or early Aug. 26.

Up to 35 inches (97 cm) of rain are expected over parts of Texas, with winds up to 125 mph, and sea levels may surge as high as 12 feet (3.7 meters). Louisiana could get 10 to 15 inches of rain. Flood warnings are in effect for Louisiana and northern Mexico.

"Life-threatening and devastating flooding expected near the coast due to heavy rainfall and storm surge," the hurricane center said.

The storm's approach has triggered evacuations and canceled the first day of school in communities along the south Texas coast, which is home to 5.8 million people from Corpus Christi to Galveston.

Energy companies shut coastal refineries, pulled workers from offshore oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico and halted onshore drilling in south Texas on Aug. 24. By midday, just under 10 percent of offshore U.S.

Gulf of Mexico crude output capacity and nearly 15 percent of natural gas production had been halted, government data showed.

Louisiana and Texas declared states of disaster, authorizing the use of state resources to prepare for the storm. President Donald Trump has been briefed and stands ready to provide resources if needed, the White House said on Aug. 24.

Harvey is forecast to come ashore as a Category 3 hurricane, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said,...