• 06 Nov, 2024

Heavy rainfall has caused flooding and road closures across southeast Texas.

Heavy rainfall has caused flooding and road closures across southeast Texas.

Torrential rainfall on Thursday triggered significant flooding in southeastern Texas, prompting county officials to urge residents to evacuate.

The storm system unleashed heavy rain on Montgomery County, located on the northern edge of Harris County, which includes Houston. As a result, Montgomery County officials issued a voluntary evacuation order and closed several roads due to flooding along the San Jacinto River.

In just 24 hours, the area received between 5 to 8 inches (13 to 20 centimeters) of rain, with some locations experiencing as much as 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 centimeters), according to National Weather Service meteorologist Hayley Adams. Additional rainfall is anticipated through Friday morning.

No injuries or fatalities have been reported, Adams confirmed. However, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for Houston, including Bush Intercontinental Airport, due to the expected heavy rainfall.

The San Jacinto River Authority closed Lake Conroe in Montgomery County due to rising water levels and began releasing water from the dam that created the reservoir. County officials cautioned that "downstream flooding is imminent" as the water is released.

Emergency management officials noted that the area could experience flooding on par with the remnants of Tropical Storm Imelda, which in 2019 dumped over 40 inches (102 centimeters) of rain in certain locations.