Tropical Storm Imelda Makes Landfall on Upper Texas Coast, Poses Flooding Risk

[thackney]

Tropical Storm Imelda Makes Landfall on Upper Texas Coast, Poses Flooding Risk
https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2019-09-17-tropical-storm-imelda-texas-coast-houston-flood-forecast
less than an hour ago

ropical Storm Imelda has made landfall on the upper Texas coast.

Excessive rain in a short amount of time could trigger flooding in Texas, despite initially dry soil conditions.

Flash flood watches are posted for a part of the upper Texas coast, including Houston.

A tropical storm warning is in effect from Sargent to Port Bolivar, Texas.

[thackney]

[thackney]

[Sanguine]

Fingers crossed we get some rain up here and not too much in the Houston area.

[thackney]

Fingers crossed we get some rain up here and not too much in the Houston area.

It has been mostly slow soaking today.  A good thing except for the work impact.  Tomorrow and Thursday could be bad.

[Sanguine]

It has been mostly slow soaking today.  A good thing except for the work impact.  Tomorrow and Thursday could be bad.

Not a thing up here yet.

[Cyber Liberty]

Fingers crossed we get some rain up here and not too much in the Houston area.

What is this "rain," of which you speak?

[Sanguine]

What is this "rain," of which you speak?

I speak of it only from memory.

[Victoria33]

@Cyber Liberty

When the forecast says, "Houston", that is me since my house is 20 miles (20 minutes), north of there.  Looking at the weather map right now, it is Imelda raining in Houston and at my house.  Can you imagine the 40 inches of rain that fell in Houston area and at my house with Harvey?  Thank God, no flood in my house.  A townhouse 6 down from mine had flood water rushing in the back door and out the front door.

That happening had to change forever the way people in that area think of rain, as in, "Only 20 inches of rain?  No big deal."

[catfish1957]

@Cyber Liberty

When the forecast says, "Houston", that is me since my house is 20 miles (20 minutes), north of there.  Looking at the weather map right now, it is Imelda raining in Houston and at my house.  Can you imagine the 40 inches of rain that fell in Houston area and at my house with Harvey?  Thank God, no flood in my house.  A townhouse 6 down from mine had flood water rushing in the back door and out the front door.

That happening had to change forever the way people in that area think of rain, as in, "Only 20 inches of rain?  No big deal."

51 inches here with Harvey.  Strangley this sucker has been dry so far, and we are on the east side of the storm. 

[Elderberry]

Harvey dropped more rain, but it was over a period of 5 days or so. Tropical Storm Claudette dropped 43 inches of rain in just 24 hours over Alvin, Texas on July 24 and 25, 1979.

Today I've gotten a slow steady rain all day.

[Victoria33]

51 inches here with Harvey.  Strangley this sucker has been dry so far, and we are on the east side of the storm.

@catfish1957

Did your place flood during Harvey?  I surely hope not.  Let us know.

My insurance agent whom I knew well for years, said I did not need flood insurance when I bought my house there.  After the townhouse close to me had water flowing through their house due to Harvey, I bought flood insurance from that same friend agent.  I could not rest easy until I got it.

[catfish1957]

@catfish1957

Did your place flood during Harvey?  I surely hope not.  Let us know.

My insurance agent whom I knew well for years, said I did not need flood insurance when I bought my house there.  After the townhouse close to me had water flowing through their house due to Harvey, I bought flood insurance from that same friend agent.  I could not rest easy until I got it.

We live in maybe one of the highest points in my community, so we had no flooding, but there was extensive flooding of homes nearby.  some up their roofs.  The smell of wet  moldy debris from gutted homes along the roads in a 10-15 foot tall wide wall and 100's of feet long, was so overpowering, and one that I will never forget.

[Victoria33]

We live in maybe one of the highest points in my community, so we had no flooding, but there was extensive flooding of homes nearby.  some up their roofs.  The smell of wet  moldy debris from gutted homes along the roads in a 10-15 foot tall wide wall and 100's of feet long, was so overpowering, and one that I will never forget.

@catfish1957

Thanks for telling us what happened to you.  So glad you didn't get the flood water.  Right, you will never forget that.  I was so close to the house that flooded, it scared me. 

AT 6:31 THIS EVENING, GOT A TEXT MESSAGE FROM ENTERGY, ELECTRIC CONPANY THAT SERVES COUNTY NEXT TO NORTH HARRIS COUNTY (HOUSTON).   Here is message:

"ENTERGY ALERT:"
"Tropical Storm Imelda is expected to bring heavy rain and flooding to SE Tx.  We're preparing for the storm and you should too.  Visit http://entergy.com/storm"

Never got that before so think Harvey was so bad for power loss, they are warning people now.  I did not go to that link so don't know what is there.

[catfish1957]

@catfish1957

Thanks for telling us what happened to you.  So glad you didn't get the flood water.  Right, you will never forget that.  I was so close to the house that flooded, it scared me. 

Funny, that it was not by chance we bought a home in a "never-flood" area.  Present home was bought in 1994, fresh after some historic flooding a month or two earlier.   Marching orders to our real estate agent was that we wanted somehting, with our spec, that would likely never flood.  Now after Rita, Ike, and Harvey, I am pretty sure we are safe.  Still, with my inate paranoia....  I still get flood insurance.

[Elderberry]

https://abc13.com/weather/flash-flood-threat-increasing-through-thursday/39346/

Tropical Storm Imelda has been downgraded to a tropical depression after making landfall Tuesday afternoon near Freeport. The storm formed at about midday, roughly 15 miles south of Freeport in the Gulf of Mexico.

The main threat from the storm will be extremely heavy rain leading to extensive street flooding, and possibly creek and bayou flooding if it lasts into Thursday.

Our latest forecast calls for 6-12" of rain with isolated spots over 20" along and east of the center's path.

[catfish1957]

https://abc13.com/weather/flash-flood-threat-increasing-through-thursday/39346/

Coming down in buckets right now.  Yesterday was strange that we had barely enough to wet the pavement with a TS making landfall a 100 miles away.

Sure has made up for it though, close to 3" since it started raining last night

[thackney]

Still lots of rain down by the coast right now.

[Elderberry]

It's never rained hard here (Hobby), just continuous. We've gotten just shy of 6" since it started.

[catfish1957]

It's never rained hard here (Hobby), just continuous. We've gotten just shy of 6" since it started.

6"?  That's a heck of a steady rain, even with our SE Texas standards.

[thackney]

https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/qpf/tcqpf.php?sname=AL112019

[Elderberry]

6"?  That's a heck of a steady rain, even with our SE Texas standards.

And 6 more inches predicted. It hasn't stopped since it started falling. Just no downpours.

[Bigun]

Got just under 1/2" SW of Huntsville yesterday.  Steady light rain this morning with light winds.  All good! We desperately need the rain.

[Elderberry]

I got out yesterday while a light rain was coming down and pulled some weeds. The rain had only soaked in maybe an inch, the ground was so dry.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

@thackney

Did you ever get all the repairs made since the Harvey flood?

[thackney]

@thackney

Did you ever get all the repairs made since the Harvey flood?

Mostly, there is still odds and ends, mostly outside stuff and garage that was low priority and now getting to.  Have to balance between family stuff and additions like fencing and adding a squeeze chute and sweep.

[Elderberry]

Flash Flood Emergency in Houston - Galveston
Active for next 3 hours · National Weather Service
This alert has been updated.
Posted 40 minutes ago
...FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWESTERN SAN JACINTO,
EAST CENTRAL MONTGOMERY, CHAMBERS, AND LIBERTY COUNTIES...
The National Weather Service in League City has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
Southwestern San Jacinto County in southeastern Texas...
East central Montgomery County in southeastern Texas...
Chambers County in southeastern Texas...
Liberty County in southeastern Texas...

* Until 1100 AM CDT.

* At 654 AM CDT, emergency management has reported flash flooding
across the warned area. There are ongoing numerous water rescues,
structural flooding in portions of Liberty and Chambers Counties,
and numerous road closures. 10 to 20 inches of rainfall has fallen
so far with locally higher amounts in Liberty and Chambers
Counties. Additional heavy rainfall is expected.
THIS IS A FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY FOR PORTIONS OF SAN JACINTO,
MONTGOMERY, CHAMBERS, AND LIBERTY COUNTIES. THIS IS A PARTICULARLY
DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!

* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Conroe, Liberty, Cleveland, Dayton, Willis, Anahuac, Panorama
Village, Splendora, Patton Village, Roman Forest, Woodbranch, Old
River-Winfree, Cut And Shoot, Ames, Daisetta, Hardin, Plum Grove,
Kenefick, Cove and Devers.


Recommended actions
Move to higher ground now. This is an extremely dangerous and
life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are
fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order.
Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.
Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small
creeks and streams, country roads, farmland, and other low lying
spots.
Stay away or be swept away. River banks and culverts can become
unstable and unsafe.

[Elderberry]

https://twitter.com/Ginger_Zee/status/1174654095791198210?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Ginger Zee
@Ginger_Zee
FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY!

 More than 33” reported near Hamshire, Texas — 25” of that came in 12 hours. Conroe had more than 5” in one hour! This video from Winnie, Texas

:
Donna Singer

[Elderberry]

NWS Houston
@NWSHouston
·
2h
Tremendous deluge overnight in Liberty/Chambers county into Beaumont. Yes those numbers are 23+ inches! Rainfall data from DD6 Drainage District Jefferson County.

[Elderberry]

https://www.newsweek.com/imelda-flooding-texas-winnie-beaumont-map-1460170

"What I'm sitting in right now makes Harvey look like a little thunderstorm," Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne told KTRK.

The flooding forced the evacuation of multiple patients at Riceland Medical Center, which took on four to six inches of water. Some homes also had up to five feet of water and Hawthorne told KTRK that about 20 percent of the estimated 2,500 people in Winnie, Texas, have water in their homes.

Chambers County Judge Jimmy Sylvia issued a disaster declaration on Thursday, stating that the area was under "imminent threat" of severe damage and loss of life.

"The community of Winnie is being devastated by rising water. The sheriff office has deployed high water rescue vehicles and airboats," the Chambers County Sheriff Office posted on Facebook.

[catfish1957]

NWS Houston
@NWSHouston
·
2h
Tremendous deluge overnight in Liberty/Chambers county into Beaumont. Yes those numbers are 23+ inches! Rainfall data from DD6 Drainage District Jefferson County.

16"+  total here, and still pouring like mad.  Have dumped (8" gauge) twice, 7 pm last night, and just dumped again while overflowing.

Still not coming down anything like Harvey (51" here)

[Neverdul]

 

[thackney]

We are getting hammered with lightning and pounding rain in Mont Belvieu right now.

Last night a construction office trailer was picked up, crushed, moved and set down upside down from a tornado.  No one there because of the rainout.  No one hurt.

I am grateful farther southwest at home we have had light rain only this week.  Far worse all around us.  River has lots of room from the previous drought.

[Bigun]

We are getting hammered with lightning and pounding rain in Mont Belvieu right now.

Last night a construction office trailer was picked up, crushed, moved and set down upside down from a tornado.  No one there because of the rainout.  No one hurt.

I am grateful farther southwest at home we have had light rain only this week.  Far worse all around us.  River has lots of room from the previous drought.

Here, just a few miles SW of Huntsville, we have had just over 1/2" of rain and light winds thus far.

[Cyber Liberty]

The West's turn may be coming up next week.  "Lorena" just became a Hurricane in the East Pacific, SW of Puerta Villarta.  It's forecast to come up the Western shore of Mexico.  Most Pacific Hurricanes turn out to sea but this one may not.

I could use the rain.

[Victoria33]

16"+  total here, and still pouring like mad.  Have dumped (8" gauge) twice, 7 pm last night, and just dumped again while overflowing. Still not coming down anything like Harvey (51" here)

@catfish1957

Had 18 email messages from Montgomery County about this rain/flooding.  I get these every time a storm is in the greater area.  Most of this flooding is in eastern Montgomery County and I am in central Montgomery however am watching the Weather Channel and my town is mentioned.  There have been over 1,000 people who called in for rescue.

The Weather Channel is mostly staying on this rain/flooding.   If anyone wants to keep up with this, go to the Weather Channel. 

[catfish1957]

@catfish1957

Had 18 email messages from Montgomery County about this rain/flooding.  I get these every time a storm is in the greater area.  Most of this flooding is in eastern Montgomery County and I am in central Montgomery however am watching the Weather Channel and my town is mentioned.  There have been over 1,000 people who called in for rescue.

The Weather Channel is mostly staying on this rain/flooding.   If anyone wants to keep up with this, go to the Weather Channel.

Really am getting tired of rain events.  In just two......

51 (Harvery) + 18 (Imelda)  ...nearly 70 inches of rain in two tropical events.

[LadyLiberty]

Scenes from Conroe:  https://tinyurl.com/y3dy3juw

https://tinyurl.com/y5a3yeaq

Winnie is bad, also flooding in Beaumont, Nederland, and rescues are beginning in parts of Kingwood.  The band of showers that dumped all of the rain north of Houston is now dipping down and expected to start dumping in Houston, but not enough rain to cause anything more than street flooding.

[thackney]

Roads were flooding in Mont Belvieu.  Almost every one sent home.

[Elderberry]

My daughter went out in the flooded streets for lunch as a passenger in a co-worker's Smart? car. A car going thru high water is like a boat and it makes a wave. So you want to make your speed to be the "Hull Speed" of 1.34 x the sqr. of the waterline length.  Well that Smarty car kept deciding to put the brakes on and the wave kept crashing into them. So they gave up and pulled into a parking lot and left it and walked to lunch.

Maybe that car was smart?

[AllThatJazzZ]

Wondering how everyone fared? I had a false sense of security when I went to bed last night. So frustrating to learn that yet another one looped around and returned to do more damage.

 

BTW, I'm okay on the coast. Haven't heard anything about my community, so I'm guessing there wasn't anything interesting to film down here.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

All I can say is don't park in any underground garages.

Have seen too many cars pulled out from those.

[Elderberry]

Barges hit I-10 bridge over San Jacinto River, freeway shut down

ABC13 9/20/2019

https://abc13.com/traffic/barges-hit-i-10-bridge-over-san-jacinto-river-freeway-shut-down/5554614/

Multiple barges have hit the I-10 bridge over the San Jacinto River, shutting down the freeway in both directions.

Around 11:50 p.m., officials received a report that nine barges had broken away from their moorings at the Southwest Shipyard because the water was so rough.

The freeway is shut down eastbound at Magnolia and westbound at Crosby Lynchburg.

[Elderberry]

Imelda unleashes fiercest downpours east of Houston

Houston Chronicle by  Emily Foxhall and Nicole Hensley Sep. 19, 2019

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Imelda-No-5-U-S-rainmaker-unleashes-fiercest-14453953.php

Rescue crews gathered under a metal roof at a Chambers County community center on Thursday, rain falling in a steady thrum, as volunteer fire chief Frederick Johnson issued instructions.

Johnson, his beige jacket wet and heavy, had been out all night in Winnie rescuing people. It was worse than what he experienced in Hurricane Harvey two years earlier. There were snakes, floating propane tanks, strong wind. One couple in a neighboring county spotted an alligator.

“Babies come first,” Johnson instructed the rescuers, dressed in T-shirts, jeans, and work and rain boots. “Elderly second.”

As he spoke, Imelda continued to pummel Chambers, Jefferson and other counties east of Houston, dropping an estimated 43 inches of rain in parts of western Jefferson County. A system barely worthy of a name — Imelda achieved tropical storm status only briefly — became the No. 5 U.S. rain-making event, the National Weather Service said.

Jefferson County also recorded one of two deaths attributed to Imelda. Authorities said a man suffered an electric shock and drowned while trying to rescue his horse during the storm.

More at link.

[catfish1957]

Really am getting tired of rain events.  In just two......

51 (Harvery) + 18 (Imelda)  ...nearly 70 inches of rain in two tropical events.

Update ...  31" Also realize that my gauge overfilled last night, so 31 is definitiely on the low end.

[Wingnut]

These storms are like a mexican family reunion and then the white brother inlaw named Jerry shows up.

WTF?

[IsailedawayfromFR]

These storms are like a mexican family reunion and then the white brother inlaw named Jerry shows up.

WTF?

I believe he is referring to naming nomenclature.  Here's the list so far during 2019

HURRICANE NAMES FOR 2019
ATLANTIC TROPICAL (AND SUBTROPICAL) STORM NAMES FOR 2019
Andrea   Humberto   
Barry   Imelda   
Chantal   Jerry          
Dorian      
Erin              
Fernand      
Gabrielle      

Seems past storms had more common American names so the namers are delving into the less common.

[Wingnut]

I think he means:

[Elderberry]

The highest rainfall totals from Tropical Storm Imelda across southeast Texas

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/The-highest-rainfall-totals-Tropical-Storm-Imelda-14461306.php

It's been less than a week, and Texans are still reeling from the effects of Tropical Storm Imelda, with many homeowners beginning to asses the damage caused by floodwaters.

Imelda dumped more than 40 inches of rain in some parts of the Lone Star State. She has been compared to one of the most devastating natural disasters to wreck the Texas coast - Hurricane Harvey.

Before the storm moved across Houston on Wednesday and Thursday, it had already dropped 22 inches of rain in 48 hours in Sargent, Texas.

By the time it began drizzling across the Bayou City, many had let their guards down, assuming the worst of the storm had passed.

But by Thursday, Imelda began to truly show her wrath, dropping several inches across Houston and the southeast Texas region, leaving many stranded on roadways, inside flooded homes and five unfortunate souls dead.

Click through the slideshow to see where Tropical Storm Imelda dropped the most rain

[catfish1957]

The highest rainfall totals from Tropical Storm Imelda across southeast Texas

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/The-highest-rainfall-totals-Tropical-Storm-Imelda-14461306.php

31" here.  And that number is probably somewhat higher since my rain guage was overfilling between the 2nd and 3rd dump. 

51" here for Harvey.   Enough already