harrisonsdream
08-16-2007, 08:48 PM
Rainy weather expected to continue for days
By LINDSAY WISE
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
The Houston area is in for a soggy few days, meteorologists say.
Throughout the evening, scattered thunderstorms will continue to sweep through the eastern half of Harris County, dropping an additional one to one and a half inches of rain "in the same areas that already got the heaviest amounts of rain," said Matt Moreland a meteorologist with the Houston/Galveston branch of the National Weather Service.
Over the next 24 hours, Moreland said he expects an additional one to three inches of rain will fall throughout Harris County, with four to six inches in isolated areas.
"That means just a few spots will get that amount of rainfall, but we don't know where those spots will be," he said.
On Saturday, the area likely will see more scattered thunderstorms, "with potential for some additional heavy rain," Moreland said. By Sunday and Monday, however, Harris County will see a decrease in thunderstorms and maybe even some sunshine as well, with highs in the lower 90s. But that doesn't mean the worst will be over, he said.
"After that we have to watch out for Hurricane Dean," Moreland said.
Currently a category 2 hurricane with winds of about 100 miles an hour, Dean is picking up speed and intensity. By the time it reaches the Yucatan late Monday or early Tuesday, it could be a category four storm, with winds of about 140 miles per hours. Moreland said Dean could impact the Gulf area between Wednesday and Friday of next week.
So far, however, the rainfall from Erin — now downgraded to a tropical depression — is about what meteorologists predicted when they issued a flood watch Wednesday, Moreland said. The flood watch was upgraded to a warning by 10:30 a.m. Thursday.
"With these weak tropical storms the main threat is heavy rain and flooding," he said. "These storms are notorious for producing flooding in Texas."
The downtown area through south and southeast Houston received the worst soaking Thursday, Moreland said.
He said the most rain fell in Harris County, with nearly nine inches recorded near Hunting Bayou and Lockwood.
"Then we have a few spots that got between six and eight inches and that generally was within the 610 Loop but east of downtown," Moreland said. "The area extending south toward Hobby Airport and west toward the Medical Center saw four to seven inches, as did Clear Lake, Pasadena and South Houston."
Outside the Loop, the western half of Harris County received one to three inches, he said.
The flood warning is expected to continue until 8:15 p.m. Thursday night, with a watch extended until at least 4 a.m. Friday.
By LINDSAY WISE
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
The Houston area is in for a soggy few days, meteorologists say.
Throughout the evening, scattered thunderstorms will continue to sweep through the eastern half of Harris County, dropping an additional one to one and a half inches of rain "in the same areas that already got the heaviest amounts of rain," said Matt Moreland a meteorologist with the Houston/Galveston branch of the National Weather Service.
Over the next 24 hours, Moreland said he expects an additional one to three inches of rain will fall throughout Harris County, with four to six inches in isolated areas.
"That means just a few spots will get that amount of rainfall, but we don't know where those spots will be," he said.
On Saturday, the area likely will see more scattered thunderstorms, "with potential for some additional heavy rain," Moreland said. By Sunday and Monday, however, Harris County will see a decrease in thunderstorms and maybe even some sunshine as well, with highs in the lower 90s. But that doesn't mean the worst will be over, he said.
"After that we have to watch out for Hurricane Dean," Moreland said.
Currently a category 2 hurricane with winds of about 100 miles an hour, Dean is picking up speed and intensity. By the time it reaches the Yucatan late Monday or early Tuesday, it could be a category four storm, with winds of about 140 miles per hours. Moreland said Dean could impact the Gulf area between Wednesday and Friday of next week.
So far, however, the rainfall from Erin — now downgraded to a tropical depression — is about what meteorologists predicted when they issued a flood watch Wednesday, Moreland said. The flood watch was upgraded to a warning by 10:30 a.m. Thursday.
"With these weak tropical storms the main threat is heavy rain and flooding," he said. "These storms are notorious for producing flooding in Texas."
The downtown area through south and southeast Houston received the worst soaking Thursday, Moreland said.
He said the most rain fell in Harris County, with nearly nine inches recorded near Hunting Bayou and Lockwood.
"Then we have a few spots that got between six and eight inches and that generally was within the 610 Loop but east of downtown," Moreland said. "The area extending south toward Hobby Airport and west toward the Medical Center saw four to seven inches, as did Clear Lake, Pasadena and South Houston."
Outside the Loop, the western half of Harris County received one to three inches, he said.
The flood warning is expected to continue until 8:15 p.m. Thursday night, with a watch extended until at least 4 a.m. Friday.