Floods remain a looming threat in the vicinity of Houston. Here's a breakdown of the timeline detailing when the weather conditions are expected to be most severe.

 

Flooding caused by heavy rains prompted the voluntary evacuation of several local communities from Tuesday into Wednesday, with the forecast predicting further downpours. The areas most susceptible to flooding are those that already received six inches or more of rain over the weekend.

A flood watch remains in effect until Thursday evening for much of Southeast Texas, including Houston and Harris County. Here's a breakdown of the anticipated rainfall for the remainder of the week and when drier conditions might return.

Storm Timeline:

Thursday Morning: Storms are anticipated to persist early Thursday, primarily north and west of Houston. The line of thunderstorms originating from the Panhandle on Wednesday afternoon is expected to reach northern Harris County between 8 and 9 a.m. While Houston proper may escape this initial line, areas affected may experience gusty winds and heavy rainfall. Following this, additional storms are forecasted to move into Houston around 10 or 11 a.m., with the main concern being heavy rain and continued flooding north of I-10.

Thursday Afternoon: A continuous flow of deep atmospheric moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will sustain scattered storm chances through the afternoon, particularly between I-10 and the coastline. While additional rainfall north of I-10 may be less frequent, any additional rain could exacerbate flood concerns.

Thursday Night: Overnight storms on Thursday are expected to be scattered. Weather models suggest the best chance for rain will be near and south of I-10, providing some relief to areas north of Houston that received heavy rain on Wednesday into Thursday.

Friday Morning: Another cluster of thunderstorms is predicted during the first half of Friday, with the highest likelihood near and north of Huntsville.

Friday Afternoon: Storm chances increase in the Houston area by the afternoon, with the potential for a line of storms to arrive early afternoon, bringing a risk of damaging winds and heavy rainfall. Rain is expected to diminish from north to south as drier air moves in.

Friday Night: Following another round of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, Friday night should see drier conditions. However, cloud cover is likely to persist overnight, along with muggy conditions.

Expected Rainfall: The Houston area is forecasted to receive a widespread 1 to 3 inches of rain through the end of the week, with areas north of Houston likely to see between 2 and 5 inches. Some areas may experience even higher totals, with models suggesting 6 to 10 inches through Friday. Residents living near swollen rivers should closely monitor water levels as further rises are possible.

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