Early Sunday morning on January 9, 2022, an EF-1 tornado touched down along the Kingwood Diversion Ditch between Hamblen and Kingwood Drive. It damaged trees and homes on both sides of the ditch for several blocks. By early afternoon, tree crews were swarming over the area, making the streets barely passable.
Tornado or Just Strong Winds?
I asked one of the crews if they were sure a tornado caused the damage. They said yes, based on the type of damage they saw. The tops of trees had been twisted off like screw caps. See photos below taken on Sunday afternoon after the storm cleared out.
Note two garages and corner of one home damaged by toppled trees east of ditch.
While some trees were uprooted, the vast majority of the damage involved “topped trees.” Had straight line winds been the cause, you would see more uprooted trees. The damage would have been more widespread. And the trees would have been pushed down in a uniform direction rather than scattered like pick-up sticks.
Looking south along Kingwood Diversion Ditch. Note eight topped trees left of the ditch and one of the tops hanging from a wire over the ditch.
West of ditch on Forest Cove side. Note damaged garages, back corner of home, and trees still hanging from wires.
Close up of topped tree and blown-over fence.
Portion of fallen tree thrown through fence by winds.
Forlorn homeowner on crushed gable. “Where do I go from here?”
ABC-13 confirmed the strength of the tornado on its evening news tonight. According to ABC, the tornado came through at approximately 1:30 AM. According to residents I spoke to, the noise was deafening and pets started acting nervous about that time.
Dogs Knew Before You Did
This article from Psychology Today explains that dogs’ hearing is four times more sensitive than humans’. That means they can hear things four times farther away – sooner than we can. Canine hearing also picks up higher pitched sounds. If the noise sounds deafening to you, think how painful it must be for your pooch.
I live near Kingwood High School two miles away. At precisely 1:30, my dog started whimpering, trembling, and tried to jump in bed with me.
Storm Totals Compared to Record and Climate Norm
For the record, the storm that started Saturday afternoon and ended early Sunday morning dumped about 4.96 inches in my rain gage. Jeff Miller, an Elm Grove resident said he had 5.5 inches in his.
These are unusually high amounts for January. The all time record for January 8 was 5.89 inches, set in 1891, 130 years ago! Houston usually receives 3.4 inches for the whole month of January. Plum Grove on the East Fork received 6.88 inches in this storm – more than double the monthly average for the Houston area. Luce Bayou on 321 in Liberty County received an incredible 8.56 inches in the storm. Had either of those locations been the official recording station, this storm would have gone down in history.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/9/2022
1594 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220109-DJI_0404.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=18001200adminadmin2022-01-09 19:55:532022-01-10 20:44:59Pics of Tornado Damage in Kingwood/Forest Cove
After heavy rains and several tornados swept through the area Saturday afternoon, many streets in Plum Grove are under water tonight.
Photo posted on Facebook by Plum Grove Volunteer Fire Department
Warning from Plum Grove VFD
The Plum Grove Volunteer Fire Department reports that: “We are receiving multiple reports of several roads flooding in the area.
FM 1010 near the Valero
Plum Grove Road near Road 5000
Multiple areas of Paul Campbell Loop
“Plum Grove VFD is currently assisting the city with placing road warning signs with out our high water vehicle. Please avoid driving in the weather if possible. Do not drive through high water areas where you can not clearly see the roadway. Do not chance swift moving water. Remember it only takes a few inches of fast moving water to sweep you or your vehicle off the road. Please be safe.”
The gage at FM2090 and the San Jacinto East Fork shows that Plum Grove received 5.96 inches of rain, the highest total in the area, by far. To put that amount in perspective, it’s only a half inch less than Plum Grove received on May 7, 2019, which caused widespread flooding.
Gage readings in NE Houston area at 9PM on 1/8/2022. 5.96 inches near Liberty/Montgomery County Line is in Plum Grove on FM2090 at the San Jacinto East Fork.From HarrisCounty Flood Warning System.
Radar as of 12am Sunday 1/9/22 shows more heavy rain headed toward Plum Grove. These storms are dumping up to 4.5 inches per hour on west and central Harris County.
All Channels Still within Banks At This Hour
It’s not clear how many homes have been affected. Pam and Jack Arnold, whose home near the East Fork was cut off for three days last Spring, say that their property still has not flooded at this hour but that the river is still rising. They are watching it closely. Pam says, “We have everything loaded to move up the road, but we could’t get out of Plum Grove if we tried right now.”
I’ll try to get up there tomorrow morning to get pictures. It’s not safe now.
Ironically, in Splendora at Peach Creek, just four miles west, the gage on FM2090 recorded only 2 inches of rain – one third the amount in Plum Grove. The Harris County Flood Warning System shows that all channels in the region are currently within their banks. Today’s rains, at this point, seem to have caused primarily street flooding.
Forecast from Harris County Flood Control
Jeff Lindner, Harris County’s Meteorologist, reported at 11:30 PM that widespread rainfall will continue across the area tonight bringing another inch of rain. However, strong lines of thunderstorms are training across the area. “Additional rainfall amounts of 1-2 inches with isolated totals of 3-4 inches will be possible within this line tonight. The main threat will be street flooding, but rises on area watersheds will be possible.”
Lindner warns that the East Fork of the San Jacinto River is rising rapidly and may reach bankfull (flood stage) at FM 1485 tonight and downstream to Lake Houston. Flooding near the river will be possible and mostly limited to low lying roads.
Luce Bayou is also rising in central Liberty County and run-off from both middle and upper Luce and Tarkington Bayou will route downstream toward Lake Houston tonight and Sunday. Rises are likely near FM 2100 in NE Harris County.
At 1 am on Sunday morning 1/9/22, Lindner reported on the training supercell thunderstorms shown above. “They are producing up to 4.5 inches of rainfall per hour. Significant street flooding is likely. Rapid rises on the smaller channels are likely.”
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/8/2022, updated at 1 am 1/9/22 based on information from Scott Engle of the Montgomery County Police Reporterand Harris County Flood Control.
1593 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220108-Rainfall-9PM.jpg?fit=1200%2C794&ssl=17941200adminadmin2022-01-08 21:41:342022-01-09 01:11:55Plum Grove Flooding, Many Streets Cut Off
Forestar Real Estate Group, Inc., one of the nation’s leading developers, is clearing land south of FM2090 opposite Splendora High School for a new residential development called Splendora Crossing. Forestar solicited bids for clearing Phase 1 in June 2021 and Phase 2 in September 2021. Aerial photos indicate clearing activity beyond Phase 2 is likely related. However, I can find no plans and can’t verify that. Montgomery County has not yet responded to my Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request.
Together, the cleared areas will comprise approximately 1160 acres and stretch approximately 1.5 miles along FM2090.
Estimate based on Aerial Photos, Plans and Google Earth
Plans for Phases I, 2 and beyond. Note: more clearing is already underway to the left/west of the western property boundary. See pictures below.
The Way It Was
The area in question was heavily forested.
Approximate location of new development.
Gully Branch runs through the middle of it and joins Peach Creek farther east near US59.
FEMA’s National Flood Hazard Layer Viewer shows a substantial 100-year flood plain along Gully Branch running through the middle of the property based on a pre-Atlas 14 study in 2014.
Peach Creek runs down the western side of Lake Houston Park and joins Caney Creek and the East Fork San Jacinto at East End Park in Kingwood.
The Way It Is
Contractors already have constructed two large detention ponds and a drainage/detention ditch on the property that fronts FM2090. The ditch parallels Gully Branch and will likely shrink the floodplain. Contractors used dirt from the ditches and ponds to elevate areas where homes will go.
Looking east along FM2090 at eastern portion of new development.Note Splendora High School in upper left.
On the western section, clearing extends about a half mile south of the road. See the picture below.
Looking SW at western portion. FM2090 snakes out of view in the upper right.It’s not clear how big the area in the distance is. I could not find plans.
Closer shot of western section. Note large detention pond in western section and Gully Branch cutting across drainage channels.
Looking south at Phase 2 Burn Pit and area still being cleared.
Close up of detention pond on eastern section. Looking east. Splendora High School is in upper left.
Looking SE. Construction roads are already snaking into forest.
Looking west along FM2090.
TCEQ permit sign on eastern portion of site.I did not see one posted on western portion.
Unlike Woodridge Village, this developer seems to be building detention during clearing rather than afterwards. That’s a good sign. More news to follow as it becomes available.
Update: A FOIA Request to Montgomery County revealed that there are actually two developers working on this land. For more on this story and to learn about the drainage impact of the development, see this post.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/8/2022 and updated on 1/15/2022
1593 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220106-DJI_0326.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=17991200adminadmin2022-01-08 13:04:192022-01-16 09:00:00More Than 1,000 Acres Being Cleared South of Splendora High School
Pics of Tornado Damage in Kingwood/Forest Cove
Early Sunday morning on January 9, 2022, an EF-1 tornado touched down along the Kingwood Diversion Ditch between Hamblen and Kingwood Drive. It damaged trees and homes on both sides of the ditch for several blocks. By early afternoon, tree crews were swarming over the area, making the streets barely passable.
Tornado or Just Strong Winds?
I asked one of the crews if they were sure a tornado caused the damage. They said yes, based on the type of damage they saw. The tops of trees had been twisted off like screw caps. See photos below taken on Sunday afternoon after the storm cleared out.
While some trees were uprooted, the vast majority of the damage involved “topped trees.” Had straight line winds been the cause, you would see more uprooted trees. The damage would have been more widespread. And the trees would have been pushed down in a uniform direction rather than scattered like pick-up sticks.
ABC-13 confirmed the strength of the tornado on its evening news tonight. According to ABC, the tornado came through at approximately 1:30 AM. According to residents I spoke to, the noise was deafening and pets started acting nervous about that time.
Dogs Knew Before You Did
This article from Psychology Today explains that dogs’ hearing is four times more sensitive than humans’. That means they can hear things four times farther away – sooner than we can. Canine hearing also picks up higher pitched sounds. If the noise sounds deafening to you, think how painful it must be for your pooch.
I live near Kingwood High School two miles away. At precisely 1:30, my dog started whimpering, trembling, and tried to jump in bed with me.
Storm Totals Compared to Record and Climate Norm
For the record, the storm that started Saturday afternoon and ended early Sunday morning dumped about 4.96 inches in my rain gage. Jeff Miller, an Elm Grove resident said he had 5.5 inches in his.
These are unusually high amounts for January. The all time record for January 8 was 5.89 inches, set in 1891, 130 years ago! Houston usually receives 3.4 inches for the whole month of January. Plum Grove on the East Fork received 6.88 inches in this storm – more than double the monthly average for the Houston area. Luce Bayou on 321 in Liberty County received an incredible 8.56 inches in the storm. Had either of those locations been the official recording station, this storm would have gone down in history.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/9/2022
1594 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Plum Grove Flooding, Many Streets Cut Off
After heavy rains and several tornados swept through the area Saturday afternoon, many streets in Plum Grove are under water tonight.
Warning from Plum Grove VFD
The Plum Grove Volunteer Fire Department reports that: “We are receiving multiple reports of several roads flooding in the area.
“Plum Grove VFD is currently assisting the city with placing road warning signs with out our high water vehicle. Please avoid driving in the weather if possible. Do not drive through high water areas where you can not clearly see the roadway. Do not chance swift moving water. Remember it only takes a few inches of fast moving water to sweep you or your vehicle off the road. Please be safe.”
The gage at FM2090 and the San Jacinto East Fork shows that Plum Grove received 5.96 inches of rain, the highest total in the area, by far. To put that amount in perspective, it’s only a half inch less than Plum Grove received on May 7, 2019, which caused widespread flooding.
All Channels Still within Banks At This Hour
It’s not clear how many homes have been affected. Pam and Jack Arnold, whose home near the East Fork was cut off for three days last Spring, say that their property still has not flooded at this hour but that the river is still rising. They are watching it closely. Pam says, “We have everything loaded to move up the road, but we could’t get out of Plum Grove if we tried right now.”
I’ll try to get up there tomorrow morning to get pictures. It’s not safe now.
Ironically, in Splendora at Peach Creek, just four miles west, the gage on FM2090 recorded only 2 inches of rain – one third the amount in Plum Grove. The Harris County Flood Warning System shows that all channels in the region are currently within their banks. Today’s rains, at this point, seem to have caused primarily street flooding.
Forecast from Harris County Flood Control
Jeff Lindner, Harris County’s Meteorologist, reported at 11:30 PM that widespread rainfall will continue across the area tonight bringing another inch of rain. However, strong lines of thunderstorms are training across the area. “Additional rainfall amounts of 1-2 inches with isolated totals of 3-4 inches will be possible within this line tonight. The main threat will be street flooding, but rises on area watersheds will be possible.”
Lindner warns that the East Fork of the San Jacinto River is rising rapidly and may reach bankfull (flood stage) at FM 1485 tonight and downstream to Lake Houston. Flooding near the river will be possible and mostly limited to low lying roads.
Luce Bayou is also rising in central Liberty County and run-off from both middle and upper Luce and Tarkington Bayou will route downstream toward Lake Houston tonight and Sunday. Rises are likely near FM 2100 in NE Harris County.
At 1 am on Sunday morning 1/9/22, Lindner reported on the training supercell thunderstorms shown above. “They are producing up to 4.5 inches of rainfall per hour. Significant street flooding is likely. Rapid rises on the smaller channels are likely.”
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/8/2022, updated at 1 am 1/9/22 based on information from Scott Engle of the Montgomery County Police Reporter and Harris County Flood Control.
1593 Days since Hurricane Harvey
More Than 1,000 Acres Being Cleared South of Splendora High School
Forestar Real Estate Group, Inc., one of the nation’s leading developers, is clearing land south of FM2090 opposite Splendora High School for a new residential development called Splendora Crossing. Forestar solicited bids for clearing Phase 1 in June 2021 and Phase 2 in September 2021. Aerial photos indicate clearing activity beyond Phase 2 is likely related. However, I can find no plans and can’t verify that. Montgomery County has not yet responded to my Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request.
The Way It Was
The area in question was heavily forested.
Gully Branch runs through the middle of it and joins Peach Creek farther east near US59.
Peach Creek runs down the western side of Lake Houston Park and joins Caney Creek and the East Fork San Jacinto at East End Park in Kingwood.
The Way It Is
Contractors already have constructed two large detention ponds and a drainage/detention ditch on the property that fronts FM2090. The ditch parallels Gully Branch and will likely shrink the floodplain. Contractors used dirt from the ditches and ponds to elevate areas where homes will go.
On the western section, clearing extends about a half mile south of the road. See the picture below.
Unlike Woodridge Village, this developer seems to be building detention during clearing rather than afterwards. That’s a good sign. More news to follow as it becomes available.
Update: A FOIA Request to Montgomery County revealed that there are actually two developers working on this land. For more on this story and to learn about the drainage impact of the development, see this post.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/8/2022 and updated on 1/15/2022
1593 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.