WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Hurricane Harvey has intensified into a powerful Category 3 storm, with maximum sustained winds reaching 120 mph (193.11 kph), the U.S. National Hurricane Center said Friday.
The storm, poised to become the first hurricane rated Category 3 or higher to hit the United States in a dozen years, would make landfall near Corpus Christi, Texas, around 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. CDT (0100-0200 GMT), according to forecasters.
Harvey is predicted to drop over three feet of rain and threaten to cause significant flooding in some areas along the state's coastline.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told a briefing Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump, who left for David Camp, plans to visit U.S. state of Texas sometime early next week.
Vice President Mike Pence will stay in the capital to monitor the storm and coordinate with Trump, a spokesman said.
