Flood watch Friday:
Friday is shaping up to be a day you’ll want to plan around as a strong storm system targets the Houston area. A flood watch is in effect from early Friday through early Saturday, covering nearly 24 hours of potential risk. Rain totals are forecast to range from 2 to 4 inches across much of the region, with some areas possibly seeing as much as 6 inches. The flood watch is in effect for Harris, Brazos, Colorado, Fort Bend, Grimes, Madison, Montgomery, Liberty, Polk, San Jacinto Walker, Waller, Washington and Wharton counties. The watch goes into effect Friday 3 AM through Saturday 4 AM.
Tracking three rounds of storms:
Three distinct rounds of storms are expected, here’s how the timing breaks down:
- Round one: Heavy rain is expected to begin as early as the morning drive, with widespread downpours moving in around 6 a.m. Most of this first wave should clear out between 9 and 10 a.m., giving the ground some time to drain before the next round forms.
- Round two: Around noon, another burst of rain is forecast to push through. The good news? This round looks fast-moving, likely lasting only about an hour.
- Round three: The most dangerous storms are scheduled to arrive around 4 p.m. and could linger until 8 p.m. This phase brings a strong area of low pressure, which means heavier rain and the risk for severe weather as energy in the atmosphere ramps up.
After 8 p.m., showers should taper off, with only light sprinkles left behind by 11 p.m. Saturday morning is expected to start cool and breezy, setting up for a mostly sunny and pleasant remainder of the weekend.
Severe weather hazards: hail, wind, and tornado risk:
Stay weather-aware, especially late Friday afternoon and early evening. The severe weather risk at Level 1 (on a scale of 1 to 5) for areas from Houston to the west, south and southwest. Although this risk is labeled “isolated,” it does include:
- Large hail: A possibility in storms, especially during the evening wave.
- Strong winds: Straight-line wind gusts could reach dangerous speeds, particularly along the I-10 corridor from Houston to Galveston and southwest.
- Tornado threat: A 2% chance for tornadoes. While the probability is low, it’s not zero and previous events with similar outlooks have produced one or two tornadoes in the area. Be ready to take shelter if warnings are issued.
To watch a video forecast of the above information, click below:
A cool and breezy Saturday with a near perfect Sunday:
Behind the cold front, Saturday will bring a break from the storms. Daytime highs are forecast to remain in the 60s and low 70s, with breezy winds and clearing skies. Sunday will deliver another taste of beautiful spring weather, with 50s in the morning and afternoon temperatures climbing to the mid-70s. More rain could return midweek, so keep an eye on future updates from the KPRC 2 Weather Team.
Have you captured a dramatic rain photo or video? Share your weather moments with the KPRC 2 community through Click2Pins at Click2Houston.com/pins.