A “marginal risk” is considered to be isolated thunderstorms which take place over a limited or short period of time, according to the NWS website.
According to the organization, a “brief and weak tornado” cannot be ruled out today and tonight due to Tropical Cyclone Beta, which has moved inland near Matagorda Bat overnight. It is expected to drift slowly northeastward across the upper Texas coastal plan, says NWS.
However, while it cannot be ruled out, the organization advises that the storm is expected to weaken by tonight and the threat will be limited. It will also not extend very far inland, further reducing the risk of a tornado.
“Convection has been focused overnight in a primary band northeast of the center (roughly through the Houston-Galveston area),” says NWS in its storm outlook. “A separate band of convection is likely to persist from southern Louisana into the central Gulf of Mexico along a stalled front.”
A flash flood warning is in effect for the Houston and Galveston area in Texas, according to NWS, due to the thunderstorms produced by the storm. At 8:29 a.m. CDT, the doppler radar at NWS League City, indicated thunderstorms will produce heavy rain across the area with flash flooding expected to “begin shortly.”
Specifically, the areas of North Central Brazoria County, Northeastern Fort Bend County, Northwestern Galveston County and Harris County in southeastern Texas, says NWS. The warning is in effect to 12:30 p.m. CDT.
The impact of this heavy rain is expected to cause flooding in small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other drainage and low lying areas. The following locations should prepare for flash flooding:
Southwestern PasadenaPearlandLeague CityNortheastern Sugar LandNorthern Missouri CityTexas CityFriendswoodAlvinDickinsonStaffordSouth HoustonBellaireWest University PlaceWebsterManvelHunters Creek VillageBunker Hill VillagePiney Point VillageGreater Hobby AreaAstrodome Area
Photos of the areas are already being posted on Twitter. Tony Russell, covering the morning report for Weather Nation, tweets: “Major flooding in low lying areas like 288 and I-610 area.”
KHOU reporter David Gonzalez reports from Brays Bayou where constables are checking the area. “I asked if they had rescued anyone yet. He answered, “No, but that’s why we are here.”
