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Flooding fear over Texas storm Dolly

24/07/2008

Forecasters in the United States have warned of torrential rain and widespread flooding in Texas from tropical storm Dolly.

The storm has been downgraded from a hurricane since making landfall, but rainfall of between 8in to 12in – reaching 20in in some areas – is being forecast.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the Texas coast from Brownsville to Port Aransas, with south Texas and north-eastern Mexico at the greatest risk of flooding.

The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) has also forecast isolated pockets of tornadoes.

According to the centre Dolly is moving north-west at 7mph, slowly for a storm, "dumping torrential rains on south Texas" in the process.

"Dolly is expected to continue weakening as it moves farther inland. And it could become a tropical depression later today or tonight," a statement elaborated.

The storm, the second of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season, had brought winds of up to 95mph when it first struck Texas before being downgraded.

Fears over its effect on oil prices have also faded after it narrowly missed drilling rigs and platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.