Severe storm caused major flash flooding in Houston, Texas

A large swath of heavy rain swept across Southeast Texas during the early morning hours of Wednesday, January 18, 2017. The storm dumped dangerous amounts of rain on Houston and caused major flash floods across the city.

Authorities issued multiple flood warnings before the second round of showers and thunderstorms started pushing through the region during the afternoon hours.

The first round of storms dumped between 101.6 and 152.4 mm (4 and 6 inches) of rain over a four-hour period in downtown Houston and caused significant flooding along Highway 59.

Some of the heaviest 12-hour rainfall totals were recorded in Fort Bend and Harris counties. White Oak Bay Heights Blvd registered 163.5 mm (6.44 inches), Houston recorded 154.4 mm (6.08 inches), Sugarland 128 mm (5.04 inches) and Richmond 101.8 mm (4.01 inches).

"A Flood Warning has been issued for the San Bernard River at Boiling, from this evening until further notice, or until the warning is canceled. Moderate flooding is expected. The river is expected to rise above flood stage by this evening and continue to rise to near 8.8 m (29.1 feet) by tomorrow afternoon," NWS Houston said.

TW

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