Storm system dumps rain on southeast Texas
08:14 AM CDT on Monday, June 19, 2006
Flash flooding from torrential overnight rains are playing havoc with Houston-area commuters Monday.
KHOU-TV
Cars were stranded Monday morning in high water, and some roads were completely impassible.
A flash flood warning is in effect for Harris and Brazoria counties until 8:15 a.m.
A flood watch is in effect until 4 p.m.
The worst problems are reported in southeast Houston.
The National Weather Service reports almost 6 inches of rain fell within 75 minutes near Hobby Airport in southeast Houston. It estimates 5 to 8 inches of rain fell in three hours along Sims Bayou in southeast Houston.
The Houston Fire Department said it already has performed some high-water rescues of motorists at one intersection near Hobby Airport. Underpasses in the area are under water.
"We're seeing rainfall rates of 4 or 5, maybe as high as 6 inches per hour early this morning in some areas," 11 News meteorologist David Paul said.
As of 7 a.m., the band of storms was dropping 2 to 4 inches per hour.
The bayous with the heaviest rain overnight were Halls, Greens and Hunting bayous.
Parts of Interstate 10 and Beltway 8 in southeastern Harris County are flooded and impassable. The Washburn Tunnel beneath the Houston Ship Channel at Pasadena is reported to be flooded and impassable.
Flooding also was forecast along Armand Bayou, between Ellington Field and the Johnson Space Center.
On the Texas-Louisiana border, up to 6 inches of rain was reported in and around the border city of Orange.
More rain is in the forecast for those areas.
"The whole system is slowly drifting southwest, and as that low drifts southwest over the Houston area and southeast Texas today, everybody along the path of that low [pressure system] and to the southeast of that low will have the threat for heavy rain," Paul said.
Rain chances through dinner time remain at 70 percent.
Both George Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports were open, but officials said Hobby has had lots of rain on the roads leading to it.
"For that reason, no flights are arriving or departing at this time," Marlene McClinton with the Houston Airport System said.
Statement as of 9:23 am CDT on June 19, 2006
... This Flood Warning includes the following: White Oak bayou...
Runoff from excessive rainfall has caused a significant rise on White Oak bayou from the headwaters above Jersey Village to the confluence with Buffalo bayou near downtown Houston. The two areas most likely to go out of banks are near Jersey Village where over 5 inches of rain has fallen and along lower White Oak near and upstream from the cdonfluence with Buffalo bayou. In past events... rainfall of this magnitude has caused flooding on Interstate 10.
At 925 am... rainfall was decreasing and moving away from White Oak bayou. An additional one half inch of rain is expected... ending by noon.
Persons with interests along The Bayou should keep alert to rising water and
take all precautions to protect their property. Do not drive or walk into
flooded areas the depth and water velocity could be too great for you to cross
safely. Motorists should avoid travel until flood waters recede.
Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio or other news sources for further updates.
VTEC:AND UPSTREAM FROM THE CDONFLUENCE WITH BUFFALO BAYOU. IN PAST EVENTS... RAINFALL OF THIS MAGNITUDE HAS CAUSED FLOODING ON INTERSTATE 10.
Flood Watch / Flood Statement
Statement as of 9:05 am CDT on June 19, 2006
A Flood Warning remains in effect for ... garners bayou... armand bayou... CArpenter bayou... Vince bayou... Greens Bayou... Halls bayou... hunting bayou... Sims bayou...
Some overbank flooding continues due to runoff from very heavy rain since midnight. The majority of flooding is streat and drainage flooding. The most severe flooding is generally east of i45 along Greens Bayou and from downtown Houston southeastward through the hobby area eastward through Pasadena. Some water will be getting into houses. Major Road flooding along with some out of banks conditions on the bayous will continue for several hours after the rainfall moves away. Depth of water varies but is considered life threatening if trying to walk or drive through it.
At 910 am... the heaviest rainfall had shifted southward to the Clear Lake area and Galveston County. Additional rainfall over the warned bayous should be spotty one half to one inch amounts ending before noon.
Residents are urged to stay in their homes or businesses until the flooding recedes.
threatening if trying to walk or drive through it. Gmt
VTEC:E GETTING INTO HOUSES. MAJOR ROAD FLOODING ALONG WITH SOME OUT OF BANKS CONDITIONS ON THE BAYOUS WILL CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL HOURS AFTER THE RAINFALL MOVES AWAY. DEPTH OF WATER VARIES BUT IS CONSIDERED LIFE THREATENING IF TRYING TO WALK OR DRIVE THROUGH IT.
(Homeowners at 39th and Taft in Groves watching floodwaters creeping toward house, created by drivers causing wakes.)