Flash Flood Warning 63, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
1017 PM CDT Sat Aug 26 2017

..Catastrophic and life-threatening flooding has begun...

.DISCUSSION...
Rainfall rates of up to 4 to 6 inches per hour...one Harris County
gage recorded 3.08 inches in 30 minutes...have been occuring this
evening in and around the Houston area resulting in dangerous and
life-threatening flash flooding. These rains, associated with the
rainbands from Tropical Storm Harvey, have been slowly edging
eastward and easily dumping 3 to 5 inches of rain on saturated
grounds. Models are showing possible additional rainband development
during the overnight hours and again over at least the next several
days as Harvey and its circulation remains off to our west.

This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation. 42
&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 454 PM CDT Sat Aug 26 2017/

DISCUSSION...
With Harvey meandering just west of the forecast area, rain and
feeder bands will move over Southeast Texas until the storm moves
out of the area. Short term high resolution models show the
potential for rain bands to produce 10 to 15 inches of rain just
tonight and Sunday morning. Rainfall of 10 to 15 inches within 6
or 12 hours will produce flash flooding. In addition, rainfall
rates could exceed 4 inches per hour. If these intense rain bands
with these amounts occur over the metro areas, flooding could
impact homes, roadways, and the highway system.

In addition, isolated tornadoes will continue to be possible. A
tornado watch continues in effect through 2:00 AM Sunday.

With Harvey pretty much stuck in very weak upper level steering,
the potential for heavy rainfall will persist into Wednesday.
Global models continue to show the rainfall potential from tonight
through Wednesday evening of 15 to 25 inches. Isolated maximum
amounts of up to 40 inches for the entire event is possible.

It should be stressed that anyone planning to travel should check
with TXDOT, Houston TranStar, or other trusted sources for road
conditions prior to travel. Rainfall of this magnitude could cause
major flooding of the highway system.

HYDROLOGY...
Widespread addition rainfall of 15 to 25 inches with storm totals
of 40 inches would cause river flooding categories of widespread
Moderate flooding. Many areas would experience Major and Record
flooding. Individual river forecasts as of 4:00 PM include:

* Lavaca-Navidad: Widespread Major river flooding
* Colorado: Major river flooding below the Colorado River at La
  Grange
* Tres Palacios: Moderate flooding now and Major flooding
  forecast
* San Bernard: Major with Record river flooding likely
* Brazos:
  - Minor flooding upstream of Hempstead
  - Moderate flooding at San Felipe
  - Major flooding from Richmond downstream
* San Jacinto River: Moderate to Major flooding
* Houston Bayous: Moderate to Major flooding (will be critical
  depending on intensity and rainfall amounts)
* Trinity River: Moderate at Liberty and possible Minor at Moss
  Bluff

CLIMATE...
Several rainfall records have been set as of 4:00 PM today. Note
that additional rainfall is possible through midnight. Here a list
of the new records:

Site               Rainfall              Old Record

College Station    2.80 inches           1.38 set in 1959
Galveston          4.01 inches           2.06 set in 1953
City of Houston    3.83 inches           1.66 set in 1959

Note that Houston Hobby Airport received 2.82 inches as of 4:00 PM
CDT. The record rainfall for August 26th at Hobby is 3.33 inches
set in 1959.

MARINE...
Sustained winds/seas have decreased across our bays/coastal waters
in response to Harvey moving inland into south central Texas over-
night. Gusts up to 35kts (higher around Matagorda Bay) will remain
possible tonight. Progs are continuing to track Harvey back toward
the coast tomorrow through Monday, but there is still a lot of un-
certainty with timing. Will keep with the previous forecast trends
of increasing wind threats across the coastal waters Mon into Tue.
Elevated tides/seas will continue to be a problem through at least
Tuesday.

Extreme to strong rip currents will continue for a few more days.
Currents and river(s) discharge(s) into the bays will also remain
problematic for navigation for at least a few days (possibly into
next weekend) given the expected record setting rainfall the next
few days and the major to extreme flooding that will follow. 41

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
College Station (CLL)      73  79  71  81  70 / 100  80  80  70  60
Houston (IAH)              75  80  73  79  72 / 100  80  80  80  70
Galveston (GLS)            77  84  76  82  77 /  90  80  80  80  70

&&

.HGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...Tropical Storm Warning for the following zones: Jackson...
     Matagorda.

     Flash Flood Watch through Wednesday evening for the following
     zones: Austin...Brazoria...Brazos...Burleson...Chambers...
     Colorado...Fort Bend...Galveston...Grimes...Harris...
     Houston...Jackson...Liberty...Madison...Matagorda...
     Montgomery...Polk...San Jacinto...Trinity...Walker...
     Waller...Washington...Wharton.

GM...Tropical Storm Warning for the following zones: Matagorda Bay.

&&

08/11/31/33/38/42/43/45

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
741 AM CDT Sat Aug 26 2017

GMZ330-335-350-355-370-375-TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-
227-235>238-271100-
Austin-Brazoria-Brazos-Burleson-Chambers-
Coastal waters from Freeport to the Matagorda Ship Channel out
20 NM-Coastal waters from High Island to Freeport out 20 NM-
Colorado-Fort Bend-Galveston-Galveston Bay-Grimes-Harris-Houston-
Jackson-Liberty-Madison-Matagorda-Matagorda Bay-Montgomery-Polk-
San Jacinto-Trinity-Walker-Waller-Washington-
Waters from Freeport to the Matagorda Ship Channel from 20 to
60 NM-Waters from High Island to Freeport from 20 to 60 NM-
Wharton-
741 AM CDT Sat Aug 26 2017

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Southeast Texas.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Rainbands from Harvey will produce gusty winds, locally heavy rainfall
and associated flooding, and isolated tornadoes. Flooding will occur
as rainfall totals could approach or exceed 10 to 15 inches.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

Harvey is expected to meander in and around the Southeast Texas area
for several days and produce round after round of showers and thunderstorms.
Rainfall totals (including today's and tonight's 10 to 15 inches) will
be adding up with event amounts of 15 to 30 inches expected and isolated
maximum totals of 40 inches possible. The greatest threat area is expected
to be generally along and south of a line from Brenham to Conroe to
High Island. Rainfall of this magnitude will cause catastrophic and
life-threatening flooding.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Spotters will be needed over the weekend and through at least the
first half of the week.

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
950 PM CDT SAT AUG 26 2017

TXZ213-237-238-270400-
Brazoria TX-Galveston TX-Harris TX-
950 PM CDT SAT AUG 26 2017

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN GALVESTON...
NORTHEASTERN BRAZORIA AND SOUTHEASTERN HARRIS COUNTIES UNTIL 1100 PM
CDT...

At 949 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Greater Hobby Area to 6 miles southwest of San
Luis Pass. Movement was northeast at 10 mph.

Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms. Spotters
have reported small branches snapping off in these winds.

Locations impacted include...
Northwestern Pasadena, Pearland, League City, Texas City,
Friendswood, Alvin, Dickinson, South Houston, La Marque, Santa Fe,
Galena Park, Webster, Hitchcock, Manvel, Greater Hobby Area, Clear
Lake, South Belt / Ellington, Brookside Village, Hillcrest and
Liverpool.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

A tornado watch remains in effect until 200 AM CDT for southeastern
Texas.

LAT...LON 2961 9539 2977 9519 2922 9499 2895 9513
      2891 9518
TIME...MOT...LOC 0249Z 210DEG 21KT 2964 9528 2900 9516

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1042 PM CDT SAT AUG 26 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1035 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 SE ALVIN              29.42N  95.23W
08/26/2017                   BRAZORIA           TX   TRAINED SPOTTER

            INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 6 AND HIGHWAY 35 IN ALVIN IS
            FLOODED AND IMPASSABLE.

&&

EVENT NUMBER HGX1700378

42

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1046 PM CDT SAT AUG 26 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1037 PM     FLASH FLOOD      2 SE PEARLAND           29.53N  95.25W
08/26/2017                   BRAZORIA           TX   PUBLIC

            PARTS OF COWARD CREEK AND MARYS CREEK IN THE
            FRIENDSWOOD AND PEARLAND AREAS ARE OVERFLOWING.

&&

EVENT NUMBER HGX1700379

42

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1053 PM CDT SAT AUG 26 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1045 PM     FLASH FLOOD      4 NW WEBSTER            29.57N  95.17W
08/26/2017                   HARRIS             TX   PUBLIC

            FRONTAGE ROAD FLOODED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF
            INTERSTATE 45 AND CLEAR LAKE BLVD.

&&

EVENT NUMBER HGX1700380

42

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1108 PM CDT SAT AUG 26 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1100 PM     HEAVY RAIN       PEARLAND                29.56N  95.27W
08/26/2017  M9.92 INCH       BRAZORIA           TX   TRAINED SPOTTER

            9.92 INCHES OF RAIN IN AN HOUR AND A HALF TIME PERIOD
            AT A LOCATION APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES SOUTH OF HOBBY
            AIRPORT.

&&

EVENT NUMBER HGX1700381

42

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1140 PM CDT SAT AUG 26 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1121 PM     FLASH FLOOD      HOUSTON                 29.77N  95.39W
08/26/2017                   HARRIS             TX   CITY OFFICIAL

            NUMEROUS WATER RESCUES ONGOING IN AND AROUND THE
            HOUSTON AREA.

&&

EVENT NUMBER HGX1700382

42