Eric Berger

Wettest April on record for Houston, but now drier for a few days at least

Well, thank goodness that’s over.

No, the flooding misery for hundreds of thousands of Houston residents hasn’t ended, from the western edges of Harris County (see latest information on Addicks Reservoir), to the northeast around the San Jacinto River, and the southwest near Wharton (which got less than 5 inches of rain, but is feeling the effects of upstream Colorado River flooding).

At least swollen bayous and neighborhoods will no longer be insulted by additional downpours for a few days.

This event has rightly been characterized as the region’s most severe rainfall event since Tropical Storm Allison, and correctly so. It rained a heck of a lot across southeast Texas during the last five days. Here’s a map of satellite rainfall estimates through 1pm CT Thursday.

Rainfall totals for the five days preceding Thursday at 1pm CT. (NOAA)
Rainfall totals for the five days preceding Thursday at 1pm CT. (NOAA)

See full post

Houston flooding continues, but Mother Nature soon to cooperate

The National Weather Service posted a sobering graphic this afternoon showing major area reservoirs still under flooding pressure from very heavy rains Sunday night and Monday. The US Army Corps of Engineers also said today that water continues to rise in the Addicks and Barker reservoirs in west Harris County, threatening to add additional waters into surrounding neighborhoods.

Click to enlarge. (National Weather Service)
Click to enlarge. (National Weather Service)

See full post

Houston storms moving off, but another round moves in Thursday

A line of storms moved through the flood-stricken Houston area this morning, and as expected generally dropped 0.5 to 1.5 inches of rain. The bulk of the system is now moving off into the Gulf of Mexico, and will clear out entirely by mid-afternoon. Although we could still see a few isolated showers this afternoon and evening, for the most part we’re pretty much done with rain for today and tonight.

Rain accumulated during this morning's storms. (HCOEM)
Rain accumulated during this morning’s storms. (HCOEM)

See full post

A line of storms approaching Houston from the northwest this morning

As expected a line of showers and thunderstorms is moving down through Texas this morning, and it should reach Houston by the mid- to late-morning hours.

As expected a line of showers and thunderstorms is moving toward Houston this morning. (Intellicast)
Radar at 6:40am CT Wednesday. A line of showers and thunderstorms is moving toward Houston this morning. (Intellicast)

 

This line is generally producing about 0.5 to 1.5 inches of rain as it moves toward the coast, and the good news (if there is any) is that the system has generally moved at a pretty good clip. This means the threat of slow-moving storms is lower. Although we can’t rule out some isolated areas of 3 inches or more, I think for the most part people will see about 1 inch of rain. After the system moves through, later today and tonight, we should see some scattered, but potentially intense, thunderstorms pop up as we saw on Tuesday afternoon and evening.

See full post