East and West Forks Out of Banks Already, Flash Flood Watch Extended to 2 a.m. Wednesday

My friend, John Knoerzer, owner of Uniserve Air Conditioning, sent me this video from East End Park around sunset tonight. It shows the East Fork of the San Jacinto River has already come out of its banks. This was at about 6:22 p.m. Tuesday.

I have no pictures from the West Fork, so this graph will have to do. It shows that the West Fork at US59 is already out of its banks and in the moderate flooding stage.

Flash Flood Watch Extended to 2AM Wednesday

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service has extended the Flash Flood Watch for Houston until 2 a.m. Wednesday.  This means conditions are favorable for flooding to occur. A nearly stationary weak boundary is focusing training showers and thunderstorms across the watch area. Very heavy rainfall is occurring in a short time period, which can cause flooding of streets, creeks and bayous. With the loss of daytime heating, precipitation should begin to gradually weaken as we head into the overnight hours. 

Said Jeff Lindner of Harris County Flood Control, “Rainfall amounts of 5-9 inches occurred this afternoon over NE Harris County in the Kingwood/Humble area resulting in significant street flooding. Water is taking time to go down due to the large volume of water that fell in such a short period of time.”

Romerica Land Going Under for 7th Time in 14 Months

Harris County’s Real Time Inundation Mapping System shows that the area below the Barrington where Romerica hopes to build it’s residential, commercial and hotel high rises is largely under water as of this writing. That will make the seventh flood in the last 14 months. At times like these, I wish people, i.e., developers with dreams, would learn to listen to nature.

Take Protective Action

Be Prepared.  People should bring their pets inside and delay travel or outdoor activities during periods of heavy rainfall.  If travel is unavoidable, reduce your speed to avoid hydroplaning.  If a Flash Flood Warning is issued for your area, DO NOT travel.  

Turn Around, Don’t Drown®:  Do not drive through flooded areas.  If you see water covering the road, do not attempt to cross it.  Only a few inches of water can float a vehicle . If you find yourself in a dangerous situation where your vehicle is taking on water, get out of the vehicle, get to a higher position, and call 911.   

Monitor Official Sources for Current Information:  Harris County Flood Warning System (harriscountyfws.org), Houston TranStar (houstontranstar.org), and the National Weather Service Houston/Galveston Forecast Office (weather.gov/hgx).

Monitor Stream, Bayou, and Creek Conditions:  Rain may move repeatedly across the same area, causing creeks and bayous to rise and possibly exceed their banks.  Stay informed of current conditions and avoid traveling near creeks and bayous.

Avoid Traveling during Periods of Heavy Rain:  Rain can reduce visibility and prevent you from seeing the road ahead, which could lead to accidents.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/7/19 at 8:30 PM

616 Days since Hurricane Harvey