HURRICANE HARVEY 2017: Videos reveal shocking moment ferocious storm lands on US coast
HURRICANE Harvey has wrought devastation and carnage across the continental US, with shocking footage revealing the moment the storm reached America's mainland shores.
Plane flies directly through Hurricane Harvey
The Hurricane was upgraded to a Category 4 storm before arriving on the Texas coast, making it stronger than Hurricane Sandy and Tropical Storm Katrina when they reached land.
Residents have been warned to take shelter from 130mph winds and ocean surges which will reach heights of 12ft when the most powerful storm in over a decade slams the mainland US.
And footage of the weather phenomenon has shown storm chasers and residents alike as they bunker down and wait for the hurricane to pass.
Infrastructure has crumbled and explosions have been spotted as the storm interferes with electric power lines.
Some have posted films onto social media of them standing in the devastating hurricane
Hurricane Harvey: Mayor of Texas issues warning ahead of storm
And some have posted films onto social media of them standing in the devastating hurricane, bracing themselves among the fierce winds.
Meanwhile brave hurricane hunters from the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration have travelled into the eye of the storm to gain valuable insight that could save lives in Texas.
Terrifying footage shows the tempest hunters enter the eye of Hurricane Harvey, which while it was a Category 2 storm in the Gulf of Mexico.
The wing of the hunter’s propeller plane uncontrollably shake as the plane battles to pass through the storm.
Harvey inner eyewall now blasting Rockport, Tx. #HurricaneHarvey pic.twitter.com/8AtjpVKxp1
— Jeff Gammons (@StormVisuals) August 26, 2017
This is the scene now as a building frame is blown down in Corpus Christi a few miles from where #HurricaneHarvey has just made landfall. pic.twitter.com/mMDOw94cmY
— James Cook (@BBCJamesCook) August 26, 2017
Footage of the weather phenomenon has shown storm chasers and residents alike as they bunker down
Strong winds as Harvey makes landfall @CBSNews @CBSEveningNews #hurricaneharvey2017 pic.twitter.com/rmDmGuL5Ak
— Angel Canales (@angelcanales) August 26, 2017
Ahead of its impact the National Hurricane Centre upgraded the furious weather phenomenon to a Category 4 hurricane.
Harvey struck near the Texan coastal city of Corpus Christi at approximately 8.15pm CDT (2.15am BST).
David Ramirez left his home in Corpus Christi early on Friday to wait out the storm in San Antonio, Texas.
7:35 pm. Gusts coming in great bursts, some quite violent. Power out. Ears popping. In Rockport. 978 mb #HARVEY pic.twitter.com/31DAv0wQ7v
— Josh Morgerman (@iCyclone) August 26, 2017
Live in Corpus Christi w/ @JimCantore as #HurricaneHarvey intensifies during an extreme wind warning @weatherchannel @AMHQ @cityofcc pic.twitter.com/ixZkRCj8b0
— Steve Petyerak (@StevePetyerak) August 25, 2017
He said: “With the level of storm surge they're talking about, there isn't a lot I could do to protect my house.”
As a Category 4 Hurricane Harvey could bring winds of up to 156mph (251kph), uproot trees, rip roofs off homes and disrupt utilities for days.
The storm the first major hurricane to hit the mainland United States since Hurricane Wilma struck Florida in 2005.
NL Central Race #HurricaneHarvey HurricanHarvey pic.twitter.com/iuGu1UZ3F5
— Crying Jordan 412 (@CryingJordan412) August 26, 2017
Harvey struck near the Texan coastal city of Corpus Christi
WATCH: Transformer blowout as cat 4 #HurricaneHarvey rolls through #CorpusChristi at I-37 / Navigation Blvd intersection pic.twitter.com/0Sfsa07Hwy
— Oscar Margain (@OscarBorderTeam) August 25, 2017
Forecaster John Tharp warned the effects of the storm could be among the worst the US has ever seen.
He said: ”We may be looking at unprecedented and major to record flooding."
Earlier the storm stranded about 20,000 passengers on three cruise ships in the Gulf of Mexico.
Hurricane Harvey ramping up quickly here in Rockport, Tx. #Hurricaneharvey @ExtremeStorms getting shots. pic.twitter.com/9XvlIcEtYc
— Jeff Gammons (@StormVisuals) August 25, 2017
Traffic lights down in Corpus Christi as #HurricaneHarvey approaches landfall - live w/ @JimCantore @weatherchannel @AMHQ @KathrynProciv pic.twitter.com/JzshoLedyW
— Steve Petyerak (@StevePetyerak) August 26, 2017
Two were rerouted to New Orleans and a third will remain in Cozumel, Mexico, after its Texas port closed on Friday.
Donald Trump classified the storm as a federal emergency as the eyewall of the storm reached the coast.
On Friday he tweeted: "I am closely watching the path and doings of Hurricane Harvey ... BE SAFE!"