Houston Weather: Flood Risk and Storm Alert Through Tuesday

By Your Gulf Coast Weather Authority (via FOX 26)

Imagine the sky is like a leaky faucet over Houston! FOX 26’s John Dawson gives the latest weather forecast for much of Southeast Texas, and tropical moisture (which is just wet air from the ocean) is moving our way.

Important Point: FOX 26’s Storm Alert has been extended all the way through Tuesday because there is an increased risk of flooding.

FOX 26 Storm Alert

Here is what you need to know about the storm alert in super simple terms:

• Lots of rain rounds: Multiple rounds of heavy downpours (big rain showers one after another) will move across Southeast Texas to start the workweek.
• Monday mood: Folks around Houston should stay weather aware (keep an eye on the sky) on Monday. Street flooding is expected in low-lying (ground that sits low) and poor drainage areas (places where water can’t flow away easily).
• Tuesday troubles: The flood threat continues as rounds of showers and thunderstorms move through Tuesday. Street flooding will again be possible.
• Not all day, but enough: The rain will not fall nonstop, but repeated downpours could bring localized flooding in spots.
• Risk rating: The Weather Prediction Center (a team of weather experts) currently has most of the FOX26 area at a 2 out of 4 risk for excessive rainfall Monday and Tuesday.

Tropical Moisture Moves In

Why is it so wet? Let’s break it down like building blocks:

• Wet air hanging around: Deeper Gulf moisture (wet air from the Gulf of Mexico) lingers over Southeast Texas to start the week.
• A stuck line in the sky: A "front" (a boundary between different kinds of air) is stalling to our north. This helps pile up this rain-soaking situation for several days.
• Cooler-ish and cloudy: Expect more clouds and higher rain chances, which helps keep the temperatures slightly below seasonal averages (a bit cooler than usual for this time of year).
• Weekend peek: Toward the end of the week, things start to dry out and the skies clear. The mid-90s (around 95°F) return to the forecast to start next weekend.

Tropics Quiet For Now

You might be wondering: "Are hurricanes coming?" Here’s the simple scoop:

• Sleepy tropics: El Niño (a natural ocean and weather pattern) and Saharan dust (tiny sand particles from the Sahara Desert) are keeping the tropics mainly quiet.
• Why so calm? They bring high levels of wind shear (winds that blow at different speeds up high and tear storms apart) and dry, dusty air (which stops storms from growing).
• No new storms easily: Because of that, it is very difficult for any tropical system (like a hurricane) to develop at this point.
• Next 7 days: The National Hurricane Center (the official storm watchers) keeps things quiet for the next seven days across the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf.

Stay Alert: We don’t get to the peak of hurricane season until September 10th, and it doesn’t end until the end of November. So stay alert even when things are quiet!

Summary

Let’s wrap up everything we learned:

• FOX 26’s Storm Alert is extended through Tuesday due to increased flood risk.
• Southeast Texas will see multiple rounds of heavy rain and possible street flooding Monday and Tuesday (rated 2/4 risk for excessive rainfall).
• A stalling front and Gulf moisture cause the rain, keeping temps slightly below average.
• By late week, it dries out and mid-90s heat returns for the weekend.
• The tropics are quiet due to El Niño, dust, and wind shear, but hurricane season peaks in September and ends late November.
• Source: Your Gulf Coast Weather Authority

FAQ

1. What does "Storm Alert" mean in kid words?
It means the weather team is telling everyone to be extra careful because bad weather (like flooding) is likely, so stay tuned to updates.

2. What is "street flooding" and why does it happen in low areas?
Street flooding is when water covers the roads. It happens in low-lying or poor drainage areas because water flows downhill and those spots can’t soak up or pipe away the water fast enough when it pours.

3. What is "Gulf moisture"?
It’s just humid, water-filled air that comes from the Gulf of Mexico (a big body of water near Texas). When it moves over land, it turns into rain clouds.

4. Why can’t hurricanes form right now?
El Niño and Saharan dust create strong wind shear and dry air. Wind shear is like scissors that cut storm clouds apart, and dry air stops them from drinking the water they need to grow.

5. When should I really start worrying about hurricanes?
The busiest time (peak) is around September 10th, but the whole season goes until the end of November. It’s smart to stay prepared the whole time!