During the third week of August, a tropical disturbance moved through the western Atlantic, across southern Florida, and finally into the Gulf of Mexico on August 20. The system was generating a large area of thunderstorms on its northern side, but the circulation was rather broad as it tracked quickly westward. Nevertheless, it acquired enough organization to be classified Tropical Depression Nine on August 21. Overnight, the cyclone strengthened into Tropical Storm Harold. However, its rapid pace of motion did not leave Harold much time to strengthen; it made landfall in south Texas during the morning of August 22.
The storm's broad circulation and ample moisture did slow its weakening as it moved inland, though, allowing the storm to bring a swath of heavy precipitation all the way across Texas and northern Mexico over the following day. It weakened to a tropical depression late on the 22nd and to a remnant low on the 23rd.
The image above shows Harold making landfall in south Texas on August 22.
A strong ridge of high pressure to Harold's north steered the cyclone quickly across the Gulf of Mexico and over land.
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