Houston is starting Wednesday under mostly cloudy skies, sticky air and an elevated flood threat as Tropical Depression Edouard moves across Southeast Texas. The city was around 81 degrees early Wednesday, but the bigger concern is when heavy rain bands arrive and how quickly streets and drainage systems can fill.
Flood Watch Runs Through Wednesday Evening
The National Weather Service Houston/Galveston office is calling for showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 92 degrees and heat index values reaching 103. Rain chances are highest through the day, especially north of Interstate 10 and along and east of Interstate 45, though Houston and areas south of I-10 could still see intense downpours.
A Flood Watch remains in effect through 7 p.m. Wednesday for Harris County and much of Southeast Texas. The warning notes that the heaviest rain could fall at rates of 3 to 4 inches per hour, creating a risk of life-threatening flash flooding in urban areas, low-lying locations and places with poor drainage.
Wednesday morning could bring scattered showers and storms, followed by additional development during the afternoon as daytime heating and the sea breeze provide extra fuel. The forecast calls for rain chances to continue into the evening, with storms becoming less likely after about 8 p.m. and temperatures dropping only to around 79 degrees overnight.
Heaviest Rain Risk Stays North And East
Forecasters expect a broader swath of 6 to 8 inches of rain across parts of Southeast Texas through Thursday, with isolated higher totals possible if bands slow down or repeatedly move over the same locations. The greatest impacts are expected in the Piney Woods and counties north and east of Houston, but localized flooding can develop wherever a strong band settles in.
Residents should avoid driving or walking through water covering a roadway, even if the depth is difficult to judge. The National Weather Service Houston/Galveston office is also urging people in flood-prone areas to monitor updates and be ready to act, particularly after dark.
Heat And Daily Storm Chances Return
Thursday will remain warm, with a high near 91 and a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, while Friday through Sunday bring highs near 92 and daily storm chances around 50%. The forecast turns mostly sunny but hotter for Labor Day, with a high near 93 and a 30% chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms.
Cloud cover should limit the heat through the end of the week, but humidity will push heat indexes back toward triple digits. By the weekend, forecasters say conditions may creep closer to heat-advisory levels, making the rain-and-heat combination the main issue for outdoor plans across the Houston area.
