Severe Flooding Hits Houston Area as Heavy Rains Batter South Texas

Over 840,000 people in Harris, Liberty, and Montgomery Counties are under flash flood warnings as heavy rain continues to lash the Houston area and other parts of South Texas. The severe weather has causing, closed widespread disruptions, including school closures, power outages, evacuation orders, and numerous high-water rescues.

Why this matters: The severe flooding in Houston highlights the city's ongoing struggle to manage its flood-prone infrastructure, which has significant implications for urban planning and disaster preparedness. As the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events increase, cities like Houston will need to adapt and invest in resilient infrastructure to protect their citizens and economies.

Several school districts have been closed due to the flooding, while approximately 15,000 customers are without power in the affected counties. A mandatory evacuation notice has been issued for residents half a mile from the San Jacinto River and to the east, with a few hundred structures at risk of flooding. "This threat is ongoing and it is going to get worse,"warnedLina Hidalgo, Harris County's top executive.

Rescue efforts have been underway, with up to 15 people rescued overnight and 11 people on Thursday rescued from flooded vehicles or homes. Roads are flooded, and commuters are advised to drive cautiously and slowly due to reduced visibility. "Law enforcement officials and emergency workers would be put at risk if people did not evacuate as told,"saidMark Sloan, Harris County homeland security and emergency management coordinator.

The heavy storms have exacerbated already dangerous flooding in Texas, with more than 11 inches (28 centimeters) of rain falling in the northern Houston suburb of Spring during a 24-hour period that ended Friday morning. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning until Tuesday for the region. Accumulations of up to four inches of rain are expected to grow by another half-inch to an inch, with a risk of excessive rainfall through Saturday morning.

The Houston area is one of the most flood-prone metro areas in the country, with a history of devastating weather events, including Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The city's system of bayous and reservoirs was built to drain heavy rains, but engineering initially designed nearly 100 years ago has struggled to keep up with the city's growth and bigger storms. The San Jacinto River is swelling, and the Trinity River water levels may rise due to continued rainfall.

As of Friday, the severe weather conditions, including heavy rain, damaging winds, possible hail, and isolated tornadoes, continue to impact the Houston area and South Texas. Authorities estimate they have conducted "a couple hundred rescues" from homes, houses, and vehicles in Montgomery County alone. The San Jacinto River is expected to continue rising, with the water level expected to crest at 78 feet (23.77 meters) Friday night.

Key Takeaways

• Over 840,000 people in Harris, Liberty, and Montgomery Counties under flash flood warnings.
• Severe flooding causes school closures, power outages, evacuations, and high-water rescues.
• Houston's flood-prone infrastructure struggles to keep up with growth and bigger storms.
• Up to 15 inches of rain expected, with flood warning until Tuesday for the region.
• Hundreds of rescues conducted, with authorities warning of ongoing flood threat.