S. 59 corridor from the Kendleton area to Sugar Land to the Houston area.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS HGX wrote it up.
A slow moving upper level storm system combined with a stalled frontal boundary and high moisture levels to produce early morning showers and thunderstorms that trained for several hours and produced 4 to 6 inch rainfall totals along and near the U.S. 59 corridor from the Kendleton area to Sugar Land to the Houston area.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 18, 6:22 AM CST, 1 hour 38 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
622 AM CST Wed Jan 18 2017
.AVIATION.../12Z TAF/
Area radar shows convection moving from SW to NE across much of
the Houston area impacting KSGR/KHOU/KIAH/KDWH. Thunderstorms are
most intense between KHOU/KIAH terminals. Storms seem to be moving
along a stalled frontal boundary that may be slowly moving north
as a warm front. This boundary essentially bisects Houston with
KSGR/KIAH on the cold side and KHOU on the warm side. Think
convection should be ending around 13-14Z for these terminals.
Based on HRRR trends, think another round of convection will be
possible for area terminals around 17-18Z through 21Z. This again
will affect ceilings and visibility. Generally north of the
boundary can expect IFR/MVFR CIGS. South of the front IFR/MVFR
CIGS may be more likely to become MVFR or VFR briefly this
afternoon. Expect more IFR conditions tonight as front finally
pushes through the area and winds turn more to the W/NW. Another
short wave trough axis may push through early Thursday morning
prompting a line of storms to form on the slow moving front. May
finally get some clearing Thursday afternoon.
Overpeck
&&
.MARINE...
Sea fog will be an issue again this morning with a stalled frontal
boundary across SE Texas. Southerly winds will continue today
allowing for mainly moderate seas. Winds turn west to northwest
tonight into Thursday as the stalled front finally pushes off the
coast. Southerly winds return Friday into Saturday. A strong cold
front will push off the coast early Sunday morning with gale force
winds possible Sunday and very rough seas.
Overpeck
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 356 AM CST Wed Jan 18 2017/
DISCUSSION...
A stationary front was waffling over the inland portions of the
2-tiers of counties near the coast early this morning. At 3:00
AM the front appeared to be near a line from Wharton to Sugarland
to downtown Houston and then through south-central Liberty County.
An upper level shortwave trough was moving overhead and helping to
enhance the convection along the front. The strongest storms since
1:00 AM have been along the highway 59 corridor between Sugar Land
and Wharton. Still think isolated severe storms are possible early
this morning. However, locally heavy rainfall was becoming a
bigger threat. Some factors that are coming together for locally
heavy rainfall include moisture pooling along the front through
700 mb; 30 to 40 knot inflow at 850 mb; and a 200 to 300 mb jet
streak moving over the Hill Country and western areas of SE Texas.
Because of this, mentioned the possibility of locally heavy
rainfall through noon. The upper support for locally heavy
rainfall will weaken this afternoon; although, widespread showers
and thunderstorms will continue.
Rain and thunderstorms will continue over the area through tonight
and into Thursday as the upper low over New Mexico moves
northeastward into the Central Plains. Chances for isolated severe
storms with locally heavy rainfall look better Wednesday night
into Thursday morning as the main upper trough and the right-rear
quadrant of the upper level jet move overhead.
For the remainder of the period, a break is in store for Friday as
an upper level shortwave ridge moves across the state. Another
bout of rain and thunderstorms will arrive Friday night and
Saturday as another upper trough moves across the Southern Plains
into Texas. Sunday is looking to be a windy day as the upper and
surface low get wrapped up over the Mississippi Valley and the
pressure gradient tightens across the area.
40
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
College Station (CLL) 56 53 72 55 77 / 90 40 20 0 10
Houston (IAH) 71 60 73 58 78 / 80 60 50 10 10
Galveston (GLS) 65 64 69 63 73 / 50 70 60 10 20
&&
.HGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...NONE.
GM...Dense Fog Advisory until noon CST today for the following zones:
Coastal waters from High Island to Freeport out 20 NM...
Galveston Bay.
&&
Discussion...40
Aviation/Marine...39HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 457 AM CST WED JAN 18 2017 TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-191315- 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- 457 AM CST WED JAN 18 2017 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS.. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT WIDESPREAD RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TODAY AND TONIGHT. ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS MORNING WITH STRONG WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER THREATS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO POSSIBLE THROUGH MIDDAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY. ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY. ISOLATED STRONG STORMS ARE POSSIBLE WITH STRONG GUSTY WINDS THE MAIN THREAT. FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF A COLD FRONT, STRONG WESTERLY WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA ON SUNDAY MAINLY DURING THE AFTERNOON. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS POSSIBLE THIS MORNING AND OVER THE WEEKEND. GMZ330-335-350-355-370-375-191315- COASTAL WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 20 NM-COASTAL WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT OUT 20 NM- GALVESTON BAY-MATAGORDA BAY- WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL FROM 20 TO 60 NM-WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT FROM 20 TO 60 NM- 457 AM CST WED JAN 18 2017 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS.. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT AREAS OF DENSE SEA FOG WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS MORNING AND AGAIN LATER THIS EVENING MAINLY OVER GALVESTON BAY AND THE NEARSHORE GULF OF MEXICO WATERS WITHIN 20 NM. AT TIMES THE VISIBILITY WILL BE UNDER 1 NM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY AREAS OF DENSE SEA FOG WILL BE POSSIBLE DURING THE NIGHT AND MORNING TIME PERIODS THROUGH SATURDAY. STRONG GUSTY WESTERLY WINDS ARE THEN POSSIBLE ON SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED TODAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX 454 AM CST WED JAN 18 2017 TXZ213-181145- Harris TX- 454 AM CST WED JAN 18 2017 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN HARRIS COUNTY THROUGH 545 AM CST... At 454 AM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Magnolia Park, or over Second Ward, moving northeast at 15 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph and funnel clouds will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Northwestern Pasadena, Galena Park, Jacinto City, Channelview, Greater Fifth Ward, Greater Third Ward, Second Ward, Greater Eastwood, Downtown Houston, Cloverleaf, Macgregor, Highlands, Midtown Houston, Astrodome Area, Golfcrest / Bellfort / Reveille, Sheldon, Denver Harbor / Port Houston, Park Place, Herman Park and East Houston. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. && LAT...LON 2964 9532 2970 9540 2997 9522 2982 9505 TIME...MOT...LOC 1054Z 219DEG 15KT 2975 9530 40
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX 547 AM CST WED JAN 18 2017 TXZ213-181230- Harris TX- 547 AM CST WED JAN 18 2017 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS WEST CENTRAL HARRIS COUNTY THROUGH 630 AM CST... At 546 AM CST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms over Greater Third Ward, moving northeast at 20 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph and funnel clouds will be possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... Bellaire, Humble, West University Place, Galena Park, Jacinto City, Astrodome Area, Greater Fifth Ward, Fourth Ward, Neartown / Montrose, Second Ward, Greater Eastwood, Downtown Houston, eastern Greater Heights, Near Northside Houston, Greenway / Upper Kirby Area, University Place, Greater Third Ward, Midtown Houston, Macgregor and Memorial Park. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service office in League City. && LAT...LON 2965 9538 2971 9546 3003 9523 2991 9506 TIME...MOT...LOC 1146Z 215DEG 16KT 2973 9535 40
The Houston radar (KHGX), 98 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:57 UTC.
3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Roads were flooded and impassable near the Wharton-Fort Bend County line, including County Road 215 near the West Bernard Creek.
Several roads were flooded and impassable in and around the U.S. 59 corridor, including the Highway 90 A and the Newton Drive areas in and around Richmond.
There was widespread flooding and numerous road closures across the central parts of the county, especially from just north of Downtown Houston southwestward toward the Harris-Fort Bend County line. More than 75 water rescues were conducted, and close to 100 homes and businesses received water damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, January 2017
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 675233, 675234, 675235.