Weakened Hanna inundates south Texas

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A downgraded Hanna continued weakening Monday but its remnants still threatened to carry rainfall and flash flooding to waterlogged parts of south Texas and northern Mexico that have been dealing with a surge in coronavirus cases.

Downgraded to a tropical depression, Hanna was 65 miles north of Fresnillo in the Mexican state of Zacatecas as its winds weakened to about 25 mph, the National Hurricane Center said Monday.

Initial reports indicated Hanna dumped up to 15 inches of rain in some areas in south Texas. Another 1-2 inches were forecast for Monday in areas of south Texas that are already water logged. The northern Mexican states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas were forecast to see an additional 4-8 inches of rain, possibly producing mudslides in those areas.

Border communities whose health care systems were already strained by covid-19 cases — with some patients being airlifted to larger cities — continued grappling with Hanna. There were no immediate reports of any deaths on either side of the border.

Henry Van De Putte, CEO of the Red Cross’ Texas Gulf Coast chapter, said the organization would open more shelters with reduced capacity to ensure social distancing. Volunteers and people seeking refuge will undergo temperature checks, and a medical professional will be assigned to each location, he said. Some in need of shelter would be given hotel rooms to keep them apart from others, according to state officials.