SelectPlusDolly Weakens, Fears Turn to FloodingDolly Weakens, Fears Turn to FloodingThe Associated PressHurricane Dolly barreled into South Texas on Wednesday, lashing the coast with winds up to 100 mph and dumping heavy rain that flooded some low-lying areas. But by evening it had weakened to a tropical storm. (July 23)[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE] After pounding South Texas Wednesday afternoon...Hurricane Dolly has lost some of its strength and is a tropical storm again.The category 2 storm struck just north of the Mexican border with winds as high as 100 miles per hour.((SOT: pat leonard- Trees were just bending over, lot's of wind noises right now I can barely walk against the wind))South Padre Island and small communities just north of Brownsville were hit the hardest.Power was knocked out across the region.The winds ripped off several roofs and water submerged some main streets.Most residents took cover inside their homes at the height of the storm, but the Texas National Guard was on standby just in case of an emergency.((Lt. Col. Brian Dickens/Texas Army National Guards SOT: If anybody is trapped in the high water we can go in and rescue them and get them to a safe area))Officials say there is some good news-- there have been no reports of deaths in Mexico or Texasand the levees they were concerned about ahead of the hurricane seem to be holding up.Authorities were worried that Dolly could produce 20 inches of rain in some places, possibly breaching levees in the Rio Grande Valley.The storm steered clear of the flood walls just before making landfall.Dolly is now about 60 miles northwest of Brownsville with winds around 70 miles per hour.Weather officials say the hurricane may turn into a tropical depression as it moves inland. It's expected to die out on Friday. Author: AssociatedPress Keywords: dollylatest dolly weakens fears flooding Added: July 23, 2008
