Hurricane Dolly makes landfall

Hurricane Dolly made landfall on South Padre Island in Texas as a Category 2 storm at 1300 local time on 23 July 2008. Dolly has since weakened to a tropical storm. As of 1200 UTC on 24 July, the storm was located approximately 50 mi/80 km east-southeast of Laredo, Texas and was moving west-northwest at 7 mph/6 kt with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph/43 kt. According to meteorologists at Wilkens Weather Technologies, the storm is expected to weaken as it moves farther inland over the next 48 hours. The storm has caused extensive flooding in parts of the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas and northeastern Mexico. In Mexico, the storm has caused extensive power outages in Matamoros, which is located across the border from Brownsville. The storm has also limited access to drinking water in the city. General Servando Canales International Airport (MMMA/MAM) in Matamoros, which did not sustain any damage during the hurricane, is closed until further notice.