Over the weekend, flood warnings were issued by the National Weather Service for parts of Texas, including areas around the San Jacinto River, Navasota River, and Peach Creek, due to heavy rain causing flooding. This comes after severe flooding in the Houston area on Friday, resulting in damage to 700 homes in Polk County. The East Fork of the San Jacinto River rose significantly above sea level, nearing record levels reached during Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Texas has experienced extreme weather recently, with flooding along the Trinity River in Harris County and a tornado in Hawley destroying homes and vehicles.
As of the latest NWS update, flood warnings are in effect for various counties including Montgomery, Harris, Liberty, San Jacinto, Madison, Brazos, and Grime. Areas near the San Jacinto River, Peach Creek, and Navasota River are particularly vulnerable. The East Fork of the San Jacinto River near New Caney is under a flood warning until Tuesday evening, with the river stage recorded at 77.8 feet. The NWS has warned motorists to avoid flooded roads and to not attempt to drive through flooded areas or around barricades, especially at night when it may be harder to recognize the dangers of flooding. A mandatory evacuation order has been issued for low-lying areas near the Trinity River.
The forecast for southeastern Texas indicates lighter rainfall on Saturday compared to Friday, but more heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected on Sunday. Western Texas, including cities like San Angelo and Midland, could experience powerful thunderstorms with hail and tornados. A higher flood risk is predicted for Houston on Sunday, with the potential for flash flooding. The NWS has issued a Flood Watch for the area, warning of possible strong to severe storms with hail and strong gusts.
Video footage shared on social media showed vehicles struggling to navigate flooded roads in Houston, with some being abandoned in the water. In East Harris County, one man had to be rescued while hanging onto a fence with his two dogs. Looking ahead, a heatwave is expected to hit the southeastern United States next week, with temperatures reaching highs of up to 120 degrees in parts of southern Texas. Extreme heat warnings from the NWS are set to take effect on Tuesday and remain in place for the rest of the week. Newsweek aims to challenge conventional wisdom and find connections in the search for common ground.
