CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) — Tropical Storm Harvey intensified Thursday into a hurricane that forecasters said would be the first major storm to hit Texas in 12 years.

Sustained winds reached 80 mph (129 kph) more than a day before landfall was expected late Friday between Port O’Connor and Matagorda Bay, a 30-mile (48-kilometre) stretch of coastline about 70 miles (110 kilometres) northeast of Corpus Christi.

Forecasters said a “life-threatening” storm surge along with rains and wind were likely as Harvey was intensifying faster than previously forecast.

A major hurricane means winds greater than 110 mph (177 kph).

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/world-news/20170825/hurricane-harvey-likely-first-major-texas-storm-12-years#.WaAW36mLlPQ.