Beta Stalling Onshore Around Victoria; Will Start Moving Toward Houston Tonight
Tropical Storm Beta moved inland last night around 10 p.m. The center is now near Victoria and moving toward the northwest near 3 mph. The National Hurricane Center predicts Beta will weaken and stall today, but will then begin to move slowly toward the Houston Area tonight. They expect forward speed to increase Wednesday through Friday.
At the moment, maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center. A sustained wind of 39 mph and a gust to 47 mph were recently reported at Victoria, Texas. But at the moment, my wind gage is reading ZERO here in Kingwood.
Yesterday’s Heaviest Rains Narrowly Missed Lake Houston Area
Yesterday’s heaviest rainfall narrowly missed us. While the Lake Houston Area received around an inch of rain, the southwest corner of Loop 610 received 11.64 inches due to a training feeder band.
The main threat today to the Lake Houston Area is having a similar feeder band train over us.
Below are the two-day storm totals so far for Beta in Harris County.
Rainfall Predictions
For the middle and upper Texas coast, additional rainfall of 6 to 12 inches with isolated storm totals up to 20 inches is expected.
Significant flash and urban flooding is occurring south and west of the Lake Houston Area and will continue today.
Minor river flooding is likely. Rainfall totals of 3 to 5 inches are expected northward into the ArkLaTex region and east into the Lower Mississippi Valley through the end of the week.
Track
Steering currents around the storm are now collapsing, and Beta is expected to meander during the next 12-24 hours. By this time tomorrow, however, a mid-level trough over west Texas should begin moving eastward and scoop Beta up. That will cause the storm to move toward the east-northeast near or just inland of the upper Texas coast through 36 hours.
After that time, Beta will likely turn northeastward, moving farther inland across Louisiana and Mississippi before dissipating in about 4 days. Beta should weaken to a tropical depression in about 24 hours before it reaches the Lake Houston Area. It will become a remnant low in 2-3 days.
Tornadoes
A tornado or two could occur today near the upper Texas and southwestern Louisiana coasts.
Surf
Swells generated by a combination of Beta and a cold front over the northern Gulf of Mexico will continue along the coasts of Louisiana and Texas during the next couple of days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
Winds
It is unlikely we will see tropical storm strength winds in the Lake Houston Area.
Winds will increase today as Beta moves in our direction. But Beta is barely at tropical storm strength now and is weakening. The most likely arrival time for the heaviest winds: tonight at 8 p.m.
Flash-Flooding Potential
A flash flooding event is in progress over Harris County. “Numerous roadways are flooded. Avoid travel.
Jeff Lindner, Harris County Meteorologist
At this time (8am Tuesday, 9/22/2020), the main problem areas are south and west of Houston near the coast. However, that could change as the storm moves toward us.
See data on the problem areas below.
Harris County Flood Control District – Hydrologic Operations Division
Rain and Channel Status Report at 09/22/2020 07:30 AM
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Maximum Rainfall the last 1hr
1.56 inches – Gage 435 @ 435 Willow Water Hole @ Willowbend Boulevard
1.4 inches – Gage 440 @ 440 Brays Bayou @ Rice Avenue
1.24 inches – Gage 370 @ 370 Sims Bayou @ SH 288
1.16 inches – Gage 190 @ 190 Clear Creek @ SH 288
1.04 inches – Gage 430 @ 430 Brays Bayou @ Stella Link Road
Maximum Rainfall the last 6hrs
5.72 inches – Gage 430 @ 430 Brays Bayou @ Stella Link Road
5.0 inches – Gage 2265 @ 2265 Buffalo Bayou @ Piney Point Rd
4.56 inches – Gage 440 @ 440 Brays Bayou @ Rice Avenue
4.6 inches – Gage 2260 @ 2260 Buffalo Bayou @ San Felipe Drive
4.48 inches – Gage 435 @ 435 Willow Water Hole @ Willowbend Boulevard
4.4 inches – Gage 2270 @ 2270 Buffalo Bayou @ West Beltway 8
4.44 inches – Gage 2255 @ 2255 Briar Branch @ Campbell Road
4.52 inches – Gage 420 @ 420 Brays Bayou @ South Main Street
Maximum Rainfall the last 12hrs
8.4 inches – Gage 430 @ 430 Brays Bayou @ Stella Link Road
8.28 inches – Gage 435 @ 435 Willow Water Hole @ Willowbend Boulevard
8.0 inches – Gage 370 @ 370 Sims Bayou @ SH 288
7.76 inches – Gage 440 @ 440 Brays Bayou @ Rice Avenue
7.4 inches – Gage 445 @ 445 Willow Water Hole @ Landsdowne Drive
7.28 inches – Gage 180 @ 180 Clear Creek @ Mykawa Road
7.2 inches – Gage 360 @ 360 Sims Bayou @ Martin Luther King Road
6.96 inches – Gage 460 @ 460 Brays Bayou @ Gessner Road
6.56 inches – Gage 175 @ 175 Clear Creek @ Pearland Parkway
6.48 inches – Gage 380 @ 380 Sims Bayou @ Hiram Clark Rd
6.44 inches – Gage 465 @ 465 Brays Bayou @ Beltway 8
6.32 inches – Gage 2265 @ 2265 Buffalo Bayou @ Piney Point Rd
6.04 inches – Gage 470 @ 470 Brays Bayou @ Belle Park Drive
6.2 inches – Gage 420 @ 420 Brays Bayou @ South Main Street
Maximum Rainfall the last 24hrs
11.04 inches – Gage 180 @ 180 Clear Creek @ Mykawa Road
11.0 inches – Gage 370 @ 370 Sims Bayou @ SH 288
10.88 inches – Gage 435 @ 435 Willow Water Hole @ Willowbend Boulevard
10.56 inches – Gage 445 @ 445 Willow Water Hole @ Landsdowne Drive
10.36 inches – Gage 430 @ 430 Brays Bayou @ Stella Link Road
10.12 inches – Gage 175 @ 175 Clear Creek @ Pearland Parkway
10.12 inches – Gage 380 @ 380 Sims Bayou @ Hiram Clark Rd
9.96 inches – Gage 440 @ 440 Brays Bayou @ Rice Avenue
9.92 inches – Gage 150 @ 150 Clear Creek @ Country Club Drive
9.84 inches – Gage 145 @ 145 Clear Creek @ Dixie Farm Road
9.8 inches – Gage 190 @ 190 Clear Creek @ SH 288
9.6 inches – Gage 460 @ 460 Brays Bayou @ Gessner Road
9.4 inches – Gage 105 @ 105 Marys Creek @ Winding Road
9.44 inches – Gage 360 @ 360 Sims Bayou @ Martin Luther King Road
8.68 inches – Gage 135 @ 135 Clear Creek @ FM 2351
8.56 inches – Gage 465 @ 465 Brays Bayou @ Beltway 8
8.36 inches – Gage 115 @ 115 Cowart Creek @ Baker Road
8.28 inches – Gage 140 @ 140 Turkey Creek @ FM 1959
Stream Water Surface Elevation Data
Out of Banks:
Gage 110 @ Clear Creek @ I-45
Gage 120 @ Clear Creek @ FM 528
Gage 130 @ Clear Creek @ Bay Area Boulevard
Gage 135 @ Clear Creek @ FM 2351
Gage 145 @ Clear Creek @ Dixie Farm Road
Gage 175 @ Clear Creek @ Pearland Parkway
Gage 180 @ Clear Creek @ Mykawa Road
Gage 610 @ Taylors Bayou @ Shoreacres Boulevard
Gage 2150 @ South Mayde @ Greenhouse Road
Near Bankfull:
Gage 100 @ Clear Lake 2nd Outlet @ SH 146
Gage 140 @ Turkey Creek @ FM 1959
Gage 150 @ Clear Creek @ Country Club Drive
Gage 160 @ Beamer Ditch @ Hughes Road
Gage 170 @ Clear Creek @ Nassau Bay
Gage 190 @ Clear Creek @ SH 288
Gage 200 @ Taylor Lake @ Nasa Road 1
Gage 410 @ Brays Bayou @ Lawndale Street
Gage 420 @ Brays Bayou @ South Main Street
Gage 430 @ Brays Bayou @ Stella Link Road
Gage 440 @ Brays Bayou @ Rice Avenue
Gage 460 @ Brays Bayou @ Gessner Road
Gage 480 @ Keegans Bayou @ Roark Road
Gage 710 @ San Jacinto River @ Rio Villa
Gage 720 @ San Jacinto River @ US 90
Gage 740 @ Lake Houston @ FM 1960
Gage 1610 @ Greens Bayou @ Normandy Street
Gage 1720 @ Cedar Bayou @ SH 146
Gage 2115 @ Langham Creek @ Clay Rd
Gage 2210 @ Buffalo Bayou @ Turning Basin
Gage 2253 @ Buttermilk Creek @ Moorberry Lane
Gage 2255 @ Briar Branch @ Campbell Road
Gage 2265 @ Buffalo Bayou @ Piney Point Rd
Key Messages
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/22/2020 at 8am based on data from Jeff Lindner, Harris County Meteorologist, the National Hurricane Center, Harris County Flood Warning System and RadarScope
1120 Days After Hurricane Harvey and 369 since Imelda
