Friday morning, May 22, Houston woke up to clear skies, steamy air and streets still slick from recent rain. Temperatures hovered near 72°F with dew points close to 70°F, which kept the humidity dialed way up. With light winds and saturated ground, patchy fog is possible in low-lying neighborhoods, so commuters are advised to leave a little extra time to get where they are going.
Flood Watch Hangs Over Memorial Day Plans
A Flood Watch remains in effect for coastal counties through Monday morning, and forecasters warn that multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms are likely over the holiday weekend. According to the National Weather Service Houston/Galveston, widespread rainfall totals of 4 to 6 inches or more are possible through Monday. Localized higher amounts could trigger flash flooding, especially in coastal areas and in counties south of I-10 and east of I-45, where runoff and street flooding are most likely.
Storm Timing And Rainfall Potential
Spotty showers and isolated thunderstorms may pop up Friday afternoon, with coverage and intensity expected to increase Saturday and continue into Sunday. Forecasters say the most active window on Saturday morning looks to be roughly between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., with rain and storms lingering into the afternoon.
The Weather Prediction Center highlights a slight risk of excessive rainfall for Southeast Texas this weekend. That lines up with the forecast for locally heavy downpours and the potential for rapid runoff. The strongest cells could dump rain at rates of 2 to 4 inches an hour or more, and repeated rounds over the same spots would increase the risk of localized flash flooding.
What Residents Should Expect And Do
Outdoor plans will need a solid backup option, and travelers should be ready for delays or detours. Never drive through standing water, since depth and road conditions can be deceiving, and move vehicles out of low-lying areas when possible.
Keep weather alerts enabled on your phone, monitor local radar, and follow instructions from city and county officials if flooding develops or evacuation guidance is issued. A little planning now could save a lot of trouble once the heavy rain arrives.
