5/22/2026 – The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is kicking off another round of funding for Flood Infrastructure Projects. $312 million is available for the 2026-2027 cycle.
Who Can Apply for What
Texas Cities, Counties and Districts/Authorities are eligible to apply for grants or 0%-interest loans. Four types of projects qualify:
Flood Management Evaluations (Planning studies)
Flood Mitigation Projects (Construction or rehabilitation of drainage infrastructure)
Flood Management Strategies (Projects that don’t fit within the first two categories, such as warning systems, stream gages, crossing barriers, public education, buyouts, etc.)
Federal Matching Grants (Funds for a portion of required federal matches associated with projects in one of the three categories above).
The New Plan for How Money Will Be Distributed
TWDB has published an “Intended Use Plan” describing how the money will be allocated. It includes a detailed scoring matrix for prioritizing projects. The Board will accept public comments on the plan and the matrix until Friday, June 12, 2026 at 11:59PM CDT.
Application for funding happens in two stages to make things easier. Applicants submit an abridged application for prioritizing proposed projects. The highest ranking projects will then be invited to submit full applications.
This year’s Intended Use Plan makes nine key changes compared to previous years.
Removal of the Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) from the Minimum Requirements section.
FME projects are not subject to the notice requirement.
Water conveyance projects have additional coordination and planning requirements.
To ensure financial assistance is distributed more broadly, no single entity will be able to receive financial assistance for more than two abridged application requests within a single project category. The only exceptions: (1) federal match projects, and (2) funds remain.
Projects will be prioritized into the four categories listed above
Removal of predetermined funding goals per category.
TWDB will invite at least one project from each regional flood planning group within each category, as funding permits.
Funding caps will apply to grants, loans, and in-kind funding terms within each category.
Grant qualifiers and grant percentage offerings were changed.
Finally this TWDB page contains information regarding everything having to do with the Texas Flood Infrastructure Fund. It includes examples of previously submitted/approved projects, a project dashboard, instructions on how to apply for grants and much more.
To date, TWDB has committed more than $832 million to Texas flood infrastructure projects.
Local Project Now in Construction
A key to the success of projects within the San Jacinto River Basin is working with the San Jacinto Regional Flood Planning Group. Timothy E. Buscha is currently the chair. Buscha said recently, “What we’re hoping for is a more streamlined way to get money to the projects that need it most.” And the first step? “We’re trying to get people to get a project into the system so that they’re eligible.”
Eventually that money works its way back down to communities where it can do some good. For instance, the Taylor Gully project, which just started construction in Kingwood, is a beneficiary of more than $10 million of Flood Infrastructure Funding, according to the TWDB dashboard.
Like most large infrastructure projects, funding came from a number of sources. In this case, it came from TWDB, the 2018 Bond Program, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Texas General Land Office, and the EPA. Congressman Dan Crenshaw was instrumental in securing the funding from HUD and EPA.
So, don’t sit back and wait for projects to come to you. Advocate for them. Get with your local officials while the getting is good.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/22/2026
3188 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Taylor-Gully.png?fit=2434%2C1192&ssl=111922434adminadmin2026-05-22 15:03:022026-05-22 15:52:28TWDB Awarding $312 Million for Flood Infrastructure Projects
5/21/2026 – Forecasters with NOAA’s National Weather Service predict a below-normal hurricane season for the Atlantic basin for 2026. The Atlantic season runs June 1 to November 30. NOAA predicts a 35% chance of a near-normal season, a 10% chance of an above-normal season, and a 55% chance of a below-normal season.
The agency predicts a total of 8-14 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher). Of those, it forecasts 3-6 will become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher). That includes 1-3 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5 with winds of 111 mph or higher).
An average season has 14 named storms with seven hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.
NOAA has a 70% confidence in these ranges. If the 2026 North Atlantic hurricane season ends up below-normal, it would mark only the second season in the last decade without above-normal activity. Since the current Atlantic high-activity era began in 1995, 22 of 31 (about 70%) seasons have had above-normal activity. Only 5 (17%) and 4 (14%) have had near- and below-normal activity, respectively. That’s based on the 1951-2020 climatology.
Also, 10 (almost half) of the above-normal years (thus 32% of the 31 years) have been hyperactive (ACE of 165% of median).
Key Factors Driving NOAA’s Forecast
NOAA based its below-normal predictions on competing factors.
El Niño should develop and intensify during the hurricane season. This creates wind shear in the Atlantic which discourages hurricane formation.
Atlantic ocean temperatures should range slightly warmer than normal
Trade winds will likely be weaker than average.
El Niño conditions tend to support fewer tropical storms and hurricanes, while warmer ocean temperatures and low winds support a more active year.
“Although El Niño’s impact in the Atlantic Basin can often suppress hurricane development, there is still uncertainty in how each season will unfold,” said NOAA’s National Weather Service Director Ken Graham. “That is why it’s essential to review your hurricane preparedness plan now.”
“It only takes one storm to make for a very bad season.”
National Weather Service Director Ken Graham
Below are the storm names for 2026.
Not a Landfall Forecast
NOAA’s outlook is for overall seasonal activity based on large-scale weather and climate patterns. It does not indicate where or when any storms may affect land. That is determined by short-term and variable weather patterns. This is not a landfall forecast.
Importance of Preparation
“Preparing now for hurricane season — and not waiting for a storm to threaten — is essential for staying ahead of any storm. Visit weather.gov/safety and Ready.gov for important preparedness information,” added Graham.
New, Enhanced Communication Products This Season
“NOAA’s rapid integration of advanced technology, including AI-based weather models, drones, and next-generation satellite data will deliver actionable science to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of the American people,” said NOAA Administrator Neil Jacobs, Ph.D. “These new capabilities will produce the most accurate forecasts possible to protect communities in harm’s way.”
NOAA’s National Hurricane Center (NHC) will implement an improved version of the tropical cyclone forecast cone graphic that will now include tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings for inland areas for the continental United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
NHC will begin testing an experimental version of the tropical cyclone track forecast cone that will capture a greater range of possibilities for the track of the storm by incorporating uncertainties for both direction of movement and timing.
Advancements to Hurricane Analysis and Forecasts
Advances are not just in communication:
NOAA, in collaboration with the Unified Forecast System community, is testing an experimental high-resolution Seasonal Forecast System that utilizes the latest modeling technology and new methods to assess the evolution of the global ocean-atmosphere system. The system is helping forecasters better simulate tropical storms and hurricanes, and more effectively predict the number of hurricanes and major hurricanes.
NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) is using machine learning to quality-control data collected from tail Doppler radar — a specialized radar system mounted on the back of NOAA’s “Hurricane Hunter” aircraft. This new method gathers more than 25% more meteorological data than the current method and leads to more high-quality data to support structure and wind analysis by forecasters.
New, Innovative Forecasting Technologies
NOAA’s Office of Water Prediction high-resolution Flood Inundation Mapping (FIM) services provide emergency managers visualizations of those streets and neighborhoods likely to go underwater. FIM covers 60% of the U.S. population and will expand to nearly 100% by late September 2026.
The 2026 Atlantic seasonal outlook will be updated in early August, ahead of the historical peak of the season, which typically extends from mid-September through October.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/21/2026 based on information from NOAA and NWS
3187 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-Atlantic-Hurricane-Outlook-PIE-CHART-ENGLISH.png?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=110801920adminadmin2026-05-21 13:50:152026-05-21 13:52:05NOAA Predicts Below-Normal 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season
5/20/2026 – According to Jeff Lindner, Harris County’s meteorologist, heavy rainfall will continue this week. “Additional rainfall through the weekend will average 3-5 inches with isolated higher totals…much of this may end up falling on Saturday and Sunday,” he said. “That’s on top of 1-3 inches that fell overnight. “Concern remains high for short-term rainfall rates of 2-4 inches per hour that can lead to rapid-onset flash flooding.” As a result…
“Flash flood and river flood threats will be increasing with time.”
Jeff Lindner
National Weather Service expects total rainfall accumulations to reach 6-8 inches in the next week.
For more details, see below.
Active Weather Pattern Will Continue into Weekend
Earlier forecasts suggested a total of 3-5 inches in coming days. But that has increased. Most of Harris County received 2-3 inches in the last 24 hours alone. See below.
Additional rounds of thunderstorms are likely, according to Lindner.
Latest rounds of storms moved off the coast this morning. Expect a mostly uneventful day with respect to any additional storms. However, this evening another strong disturbance will come out of west Texas and northern Mexico. It will likely produce another complex of thunderstorms. High resolution models suggest a line of storms will form over that part of Texas and move eastward tonight into Thursday morning.
Some models predict the complex of storms will hold together into southeast Texas early Thursday. But other suggest they will weaken before reaching here.
Generally, this activity looks progressive. It will likely bring another 1-2 inches of rainfall. Once it moves through, another break will be possible for much of Thursday. But that will depend on the morning complex of storms pushing through the region and stabilizing the air mass. If not, thunderstorms could develop with heating on Thursday. The NWS Weather Prediction Center shows a level 2 out of 4 risk for excessive rainfall and flash flood threat for Thursday for the entire region.
Additional showers and thunderstorms will be possible on Friday. But confidence in the forecast is low beyond 36 hours. So monitor forecasts late Thursday into Friday morning for approaching disturbances.
Heavy Rainfall Threat Increasing For Weekend
Models indicate more concentrated thunderstorms and heavy rainfall may occur this weekend as a trough over the southwest shift slowly towards west Texas. It is unclear exactly how things will play out into the weekend, but it generally looks wet and the heavy rainfall threat will remain. Colorado State University predicts a heavy rainfall threat for both Saturday and Sunday.
Additional rainfall through the weekend will average 3-5 inches with isolated higher totals. Much of this may end up falling on Saturday and Sunday. Concern remains for high short term rainfall rates of 2-4 inches per hour that can lead to rapid onset flash flooding.
We will need to watch the entire period for any stalling storms or cell training that could quickly result in flash flooding.
Runoff/Flooding
With all the rounds of rainfall, grounds will saturate thoroughly. Run-off will increase into the weekend. A lot of water is going to fall over the next 5-7 days across the region. How quickly that happens will ultimately determine the threat for flooding of creeks, bayous, and rivers.
“Rivers and creeks will rise with rounds of storms and may not be able to recede much before the next round – especially this weekend,” says Lindner. The end result: a slow steady rise in water levels.
Additionally, heavy rainfall will also cause more rapid rises on the more urban creeks and bayous. While these channels can effectively move large amounts of run-off in a short period of time, they can become overwhelmed with intense short-term rainfall rates.
Closely monitor all watersheds into the weekend for rises and any more defined flooding concerns. A good source for that in real-time is the Harris County Flood Warning System. Just remember to click on the Inundation button in the left column. You can also sign up for alerts.
Severe Weather Threat Low
Overall, the severe weather threat is low, but not zero. Overnight storms produced wind gusts of 45-55mph (56mph near Surfside Beach) and these complexes of storms tend to produce gusty winds along their leading edge. The severe threat is likely secondary to the increasing flood threat but will need to be monitored.
Lake Lowering
The Coastal Water Authority started lowering Lake Houston yesterday morning to create more storage for floodwater in the lake and reduce flood threats. As of 11:30 today, the lake was down from its normal level by almost a foot.
The SJRA dashboard shows they are not releasing any water from Lake Conroe but that lake is already down about a half foot. Normal is 201 feet.
Keep your eye on the sky and your ear to the weather radio. And with hurricane season officially starting in 11 days, now may be a good time to check the batteries in all your emergency equipment.
Posted by Bob Rehak at 1PM on Wed., May 20, 2026
3186 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Forecast-Precip.png?fit=870%2C662&ssl=1662870adminadmin2026-05-20 12:55:422026-05-20 13:24:28Flood Threats Increasing with Rainfall Predictions
TWDB Awarding $312 Million for Flood Infrastructure Projects
5/22/2026 – The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is kicking off another round of funding for Flood Infrastructure Projects. $312 million is available for the 2026-2027 cycle.
Who Can Apply for What
Texas Cities, Counties and Districts/Authorities are eligible to apply for grants or 0%-interest loans. Four types of projects qualify:
The New Plan for How Money Will Be Distributed
TWDB has published an “Intended Use Plan” describing how the money will be allocated. It includes a detailed scoring matrix for prioritizing projects. The Board will accept public comments on the plan and the matrix until Friday, June 12, 2026 at 11:59PM CDT.
Application for funding happens in two stages to make things easier. Applicants submit an abridged application for prioritizing proposed projects. The highest ranking projects will then be invited to submit full applications.
This year’s Intended Use Plan makes nine key changes compared to previous years.
For More Information
See the full 23-page Draft Intended Use Plan for all the details.
Also see the new prioritization index for planning cycle and how to submit a Public Comment.
Finally this TWDB page contains information regarding everything having to do with the Texas Flood Infrastructure Fund. It includes examples of previously submitted/approved projects, a project dashboard, instructions on how to apply for grants and much more.
To date, TWDB has committed more than $832 million to Texas flood infrastructure projects.
Local Project Now in Construction
A key to the success of projects within the San Jacinto River Basin is working with the San Jacinto Regional Flood Planning Group. Timothy E. Buscha is currently the chair. Buscha said recently, “What we’re hoping for is a more streamlined way to get money to the projects that need it most.” And the first step? “We’re trying to get people to get a project into the system so that they’re eligible.”
Eventually that money works its way back down to communities where it can do some good. For instance, the Taylor Gully project, which just started construction in Kingwood, is a beneficiary of more than $10 million of Flood Infrastructure Funding, according to the TWDB dashboard.
Like most large infrastructure projects, funding came from a number of sources. In this case, it came from TWDB, the 2018 Bond Program, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Texas General Land Office, and the EPA. Congressman Dan Crenshaw was instrumental in securing the funding from HUD and EPA.
So, don’t sit back and wait for projects to come to you. Advocate for them. Get with your local officials while the getting is good.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/22/2026
3188 Days since Hurricane Harvey
NOAA Predicts Below-Normal 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season
5/21/2026 – Forecasters with NOAA’s National Weather Service predict a below-normal hurricane season for the Atlantic basin for 2026. The Atlantic season runs June 1 to November 30. NOAA predicts a 35% chance of a near-normal season, a 10% chance of an above-normal season, and a 55% chance of a below-normal season.
The agency predicts a total of 8-14 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher). Of those, it forecasts 3-6 will become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher). That includes 1-3 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5 with winds of 111 mph or higher).
An average season has 14 named storms with seven hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.
NOAA has a 70% confidence in these ranges. If the 2026 North Atlantic hurricane season ends up below-normal, it would mark only the second season in the last decade without above-normal activity. Since the current Atlantic high-activity era began in 1995, 22 of 31 (about 70%) seasons have had above-normal activity. Only 5 (17%) and 4 (14%) have had near- and below-normal activity, respectively. That’s based on the 1951-2020 climatology.
Also, 10 (almost half) of the above-normal years (thus 32% of the 31 years) have been hyperactive (ACE of 165% of median).
Key Factors Driving NOAA’s Forecast
NOAA based its below-normal predictions on competing factors.
El Niño conditions tend to support fewer tropical storms and hurricanes, while warmer ocean temperatures and low winds support a more active year.
“Although El Niño’s impact in the Atlantic Basin can often suppress hurricane development, there is still uncertainty in how each season will unfold,” said NOAA’s National Weather Service Director Ken Graham. “That is why it’s essential to review your hurricane preparedness plan now.”
Below are the storm names for 2026.
Not a Landfall Forecast
NOAA’s outlook is for overall seasonal activity based on large-scale weather and climate patterns. It does not indicate where or when any storms may affect land. That is determined by short-term and variable weather patterns. This is not a landfall forecast.
Importance of Preparation
“Preparing now for hurricane season — and not waiting for a storm to threaten — is essential for staying ahead of any storm. Visit weather.gov/safety and Ready.gov for important preparedness information,” added Graham.
New, Enhanced Communication Products This Season
“NOAA’s rapid integration of advanced technology, including AI-based weather models, drones, and next-generation satellite data will deliver actionable science to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of the American people,” said NOAA Administrator Neil Jacobs, Ph.D. “These new capabilities will produce the most accurate forecasts possible to protect communities in harm’s way.”
Advancements to Hurricane Analysis and Forecasts
Advances are not just in communication:
New, Innovative Forecasting Technologies
The 2026 Atlantic seasonal outlook will be updated in early August, ahead of the historical peak of the season, which typically extends from mid-September through October.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/21/2026 based on information from NOAA and NWS
3187 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Flood Threats Increasing with Rainfall Predictions
5/20/2026 – According to Jeff Lindner, Harris County’s meteorologist, heavy rainfall will continue this week. “Additional rainfall through the weekend will average 3-5 inches with isolated higher totals…much of this may end up falling on Saturday and Sunday,” he said. “That’s on top of 1-3 inches that fell overnight. “Concern remains high for short-term rainfall rates of 2-4 inches per hour that can lead to rapid-onset flash flooding.” As a result…
National Weather Service expects total rainfall accumulations to reach 6-8 inches in the next week.
For more details, see below.
Active Weather Pattern Will Continue into Weekend
Earlier forecasts suggested a total of 3-5 inches in coming days. But that has increased. Most of Harris County received 2-3 inches in the last 24 hours alone. See below.
Additional rounds of thunderstorms are likely, according to Lindner.
Latest rounds of storms moved off the coast this morning. Expect a mostly uneventful day with respect to any additional storms. However, this evening another strong disturbance will come out of west Texas and northern Mexico. It will likely produce another complex of thunderstorms. High resolution models suggest a line of storms will form over that part of Texas and move eastward tonight into Thursday morning.
Some models predict the complex of storms will hold together into southeast Texas early Thursday. But other suggest they will weaken before reaching here.
Generally, this activity looks progressive. It will likely bring another 1-2 inches of rainfall. Once it moves through, another break will be possible for much of Thursday. But that will depend on the morning complex of storms pushing through the region and stabilizing the air mass. If not, thunderstorms could develop with heating on Thursday. The NWS Weather Prediction Center shows a level 2 out of 4 risk for excessive rainfall and flash flood threat for Thursday for the entire region.
Additional showers and thunderstorms will be possible on Friday. But confidence in the forecast is low beyond 36 hours. So monitor forecasts late Thursday into Friday morning for approaching disturbances.
Heavy Rainfall Threat Increasing For Weekend
Models indicate more concentrated thunderstorms and heavy rainfall may occur this weekend as a trough over the southwest shift slowly towards west Texas. It is unclear exactly how things will play out into the weekend, but it generally looks wet and the heavy rainfall threat will remain. Colorado State University predicts a heavy rainfall threat for both Saturday and Sunday.
Additional rainfall through the weekend will average 3-5 inches with isolated higher totals. Much of this may end up falling on Saturday and Sunday. Concern remains for high short term rainfall rates of 2-4 inches per hour that can lead to rapid onset flash flooding.
We will need to watch the entire period for any stalling storms or cell training that could quickly result in flash flooding.
Runoff/Flooding
With all the rounds of rainfall, grounds will saturate thoroughly. Run-off will increase into the weekend. A lot of water is going to fall over the next 5-7 days across the region. How quickly that happens will ultimately determine the threat for flooding of creeks, bayous, and rivers.
“Rivers and creeks will rise with rounds of storms and may not be able to recede much before the next round – especially this weekend,” says Lindner. The end result: a slow steady rise in water levels.
Additionally, heavy rainfall will also cause more rapid rises on the more urban creeks and bayous. While these channels can effectively move large amounts of run-off in a short period of time, they can become overwhelmed with intense short-term rainfall rates.
Closely monitor all watersheds into the weekend for rises and any more defined flooding concerns. A good source for that in real-time is the Harris County Flood Warning System. Just remember to click on the Inundation button in the left column. You can also sign up for alerts.
Severe Weather Threat Low
Overall, the severe weather threat is low, but not zero. Overnight storms produced wind gusts of 45-55mph (56mph near Surfside Beach) and these complexes of storms tend to produce gusty winds along their leading edge. The severe threat is likely secondary to the increasing flood threat but will need to be monitored.
Lake Lowering
The Coastal Water Authority started lowering Lake Houston yesterday morning to create more storage for floodwater in the lake and reduce flood threats. As of 11:30 today, the lake was down from its normal level by almost a foot.
The SJRA dashboard shows they are not releasing any water from Lake Conroe but that lake is already down about a half foot. Normal is 201 feet.
Keep your eye on the sky and your ear to the weather radio. And with hurricane season officially starting in 11 days, now may be a good time to check the batteries in all your emergency equipment.
Posted by Bob Rehak at 1PM on Wed., May 20, 2026
3186 Days since Hurricane Harvey