Houston weather: How do you know if you're in a flood risk area?
The Brief
Waves of heavy storms will move across the Houston area with 4-6" totals possible and a few strong to severe storms, too.
Local officials are preparing for the storms.
Multiple platforms can be used to track flood conditions in real time.
HOUSTON - As rain moves into the Houston area on Thursday and Friday, preps are underway.
What we know
Commissioner Lesley Briones said Precinct 4 Road & Bridge crews were out Wednesday clearing drainage systems, cleaning ditches, and ensuring water flows where it should to reduce the risk of street flooding in unincorporated Harris County.
"Looking for any kind of blockage we might have in a curb inlet, debris in a ditch, anyone who left a trashcan," said Walter Hambrick, the precinct's Director of Road and Bridge.
He says those who live in areas with road-side drainage systems should be aware.
"If you park your vehicle on the curb in a neighborhood, be aware of what the water is doing overnight. And also be cautious that you're not blocking an inlet that would slow down the water from draining into your neighborhood," he said.
State action
On a broader scale, Texas Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to activate state emergency response resources ahead of the threats of severe weather.
"Texas is prepared to deploy all resources needed to support local communities in South and Southeast Texas as they prepare to respond to severe weather and flash flooding," said Governor Abbott in a press release.
For Houstonians, the rainfall is supposed to be between two to four inches between Thursday and Friday, not causing a huge flood threat.
But neighbors further south in Brazoria, Matagorda, Wharton, Jackson and Calhoun counties could see several inches more.
What you can do
Knowing the flood risk in your area is extremely important.
The National Water Prediction Service has an interactive map that highlights observed flooding areas. It updates with forecasts and rainfall so you can keep up-to-date with conditions in a specific area.
The Harris County Flood Control District also has an interactive map that shows active floodways and the surrounding areas, so you can determine how close you are to a floodway at any given time.
The Govorner's press release also lists resources including flood conditions at TexasFlood.org, road conditions at DriveTexas.org, flood safety information at TexasReady.gov, and general preparedness tips at tdem.texas.gov/prepare.
The Source
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Commissioner Lesley Briones' Precinct 4, FOX 26 Weather Models
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
TxDOT warns of high waters amid roadway flooding
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — The Texas Department of Transportation's San Angelo district is warning drivers to avoid driving on flooded roadways after reporting that the San Saba River is several feet over the road in parts of Menard County. TxDOT issued a warning via social media in the morning of June 4, advising motorists traveling through Menard County and Kimble County to be aware of high water on roads. 'Several of our roads are closed due to high water,' TxDOT said. Footage published by the agency shows the San Saba River flowing over FM 2092's river crossing, also known as Tenmile Crossing. The video shows the river submerging the roadway for a distance, with nearby trees having the entirety or majority of their trunks underwater. As of the time of publication, interactive map indicates that a section of FM 2092 beginning just east of the city of Menard and ending at State Highway 29 has been closed due to flooding. The closure is currently slated to conclude at 3 p.m. on June 4. In the comments of its warning post, TxDOT provided a photo of the San Saba River flooding a section of FM 1311. The agency stated that the river is '7 feet over the road' in the image. indicates that a section of FM 1311 spanning from State Highway 29 to County Road 110 has been closed due to flooding, with the closure being scheduled to end at 10 a.m. June 5. Meanwhile, a section of FM 1311 spanning from County Road 110 to U.S. Route 190 is listed as being flooded, with the listing expected to end at 1:30 p.m. on June 5. TxDOT urged drivers not to attempt to drive through flooded roadways. It encouraged motorists to find alternative routes and check to identify active road closures before traveling. 'Do NOT attempt to cross,' TxDOT said. 'Turn around and find an alternate route. Your life is worth more than a shortcut.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Yahoo
Homeowner in NW Houston shares harrowing moments when tree fell during Monday nights storms.
The Brief Ms. Penny, the homeowner, says she was asleep when a tree fell on her home during Monday night's storms. She says the tree partially came through her roof, and now she is working with insurance to start a claim. Richard Johnson, Director of Communications with the Insurance Council of Texas, discusses how homeowners should prepare ahead of the Hurricane season. HOUSTON - A northwest Houston homeowner is speaking with us about the storms Monday night that left a tree on top of her home. The homeowner, who wants to be known as Ms. Penny, tells FOX 26 she is still in shock. The backstory "It's still mind-boggling, mind-blowing and, of course, it's raining and, around midnight, I heard this extremely loud boom, but I assumed it was a transformer or something. Then seconds later, my daughter ran downstairs, and she was like, mom, the roof collapsed," said Ms. Penny. "So I went to the stairs. When you look straight up the stairs, the ceiling is still intact, but as I got up the stairs, I could see to the right, which is the game room. My grandson plays his PlayStation there." Thankfully, he was not sitting there, she says. She called 911 and officials came who told her it was not safe to stay Monday night, so she reached out to her insurance. "This is one of those times where an automated system did not work. I needed a live person to talk to because me and my family was displaced last night," said Ms. Penny. "So for this to happen and to be in the house and to live that, yeah, that was definitely an experience. I am still shaken. Ms. Penny said she has been in the home for three years, and she thought about cutting down her pine trees, but after this storm she says she is getting rid of all of them. The tree that fell on her roof was taken down just after 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Why you should care Richard Johnson, Director of Communications Insurance Council of Texas spoke with us about what you need to know. "The first thing is to go ahead and check your insurance policies, make sure that everything is up-to-date, check your deductibles, make sure that you can afford them, make sure you have the right coverage," said Richard Johnson, Director of Communications, Insurance Council of Texas. Johnson adds that Houstonians need to look into getting flood insurance, but also start doing a home inventory. That means taking pictures of your belongings and keeping a record of them should the worst happen. So, for wind insurance, do you need a TWA policy, which is the Texas Wind Association, or a Fair Plan Policy. Right now in the Houston area and along the coast, you may need that other policy for wind and hail coverage. If you don't, and if it's your typical homeowners' policy, ask about your deductible. You might have a different deductible for fire than you do for wind and hail," Johnson added. Johnson adds if you find yourself in a situation like this homeowner, and you need a contractor, be careful because contractors use opportunities like this to prey on homeowners. "Sometimes, deals could be too good to be true. Get with friends, family and roofers to ask for recommendations and if they ask you or tell you they can wave your deductible, that is a huge red flag. It's something that we can't do in Texas, so if somebody starts talking to you like that, you should move onto the next contractor," Johnson said. The Source FOX 26 Reporter Leslie DelasBour spoke with the homeowner about the incident.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Severe Memorial Day storms knock out power to more than 100,000 in Texas
More than 100,000 customers in Texas were without power on Tuesday morning after severe storms pummelled the area. Earlier Tuesday morning, it was closer to 130,000 customers who did not have power, but the outages have been clearing up throughout the morning, according to a platform that tracks national power outages. Heavy rain, hail and violent winds over Memorial Day weekend are behind the widespread power outages across the state, particularly in the greater Houston area and nearby counties. reports that over 71,000 CenterPoint Energy clients and more than 23,000 Entergy clients were without power as of 10:30 a.m. ET. Thunderstorms are expected to continue hitting areas throughout southeastern Texas into Louisiana and Mississippi on Tuesday, as severe weather from the holiday weekend continues to move eastward. The National Weather Service reports that the Storm Prediction Center has issued a Slight Risk level of two out of five for the thunderstorms throughout Texas that will continue into Thursday morning, with frequent lightning, severe wind, hail and potentially a few tornadoes. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott activated state emergency response resources on Monday, telling residents the state was 'ready to deploy all necessary resources to support Texans as severe thunderstorms move across our state.' 'Texans are urged to remain weather-aware, regularly checking road conditions and heed the guidance of state and local officials to ensure the safety of themselves and their loved ones,' Abbott wrote in a news release. Some Texas residents have captured significant elements from the thunderstorms: An X user in north-central Texas took photos of hail larger than the size of a softball, and in Austin, someone filmed a video of the intense lightning strikes during a storm Monday night. The Weather Prediction Center has placed southeastern New Mexico, parts of southwestern Texas and areas across Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia on a level two out of five risk for severe thunderstorms through Wednesday. The center also warned some areas in Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia could experience flooding from the storms. The NWS advises residents to be ready to shelter indoors before storms hit and set up multiple ways to receive as many weather warnings as possible.
