A tropical storm is bringing a whole lot of water with it—and some places could get soaked!
Tropical Storm Edouard has made landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border, but the rain story is far from over.
The storm is carrying a huge amount of tropical moisture. As Edouard moves inland, bands of heavy rain can continue to pour down across parts of southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana.
And some of that rain could fall very quickly.
HOW MUCH RAIN?
Forecasters are watching the possibility of 3 to 7 inches of rain across parts of the storm’s path.
But there is an even bigger number to watch.
Some spots could receive 9 inches or more!
That does not mean every town will get that much. Rainfall can be very uneven during a tropical storm.
One neighborhood might get a few inches while another nearby location gets much more.
THE BIG DANGER: RAIN FALLING TOO FAST
This is where Edouard gets serious.
The National Weather Service says some of the heaviest rain bands could produce 1 to 2 inches of rain in just one hour, with isolated spots getting more than 2 inches in an hour. (Weather Prediction Center)
Think about that.
More than 2 inches of water falling from the sky in about an hour!
That is enough to quickly fill streets, creeks and drainage areas.
Water may rise faster than people expect.
FLASH FLOODING COULD HAPPEN
The Weather Prediction Center has placed parts of the Upper Texas Coast and southwestern Louisiana under a Slight Risk for excessive rainfall.
That means some areas could have a greater chance of dangerous flooding, especially where heavy thunderstorms keep coming back over the same place. (National Weather Service)
And remember:
Floodwater is never safe to drive through.
Even water that looks shallow can hide a washed-out road or move a vehicle.
Turn around. Don’t drown!
WHAT ABOUT OKLAHOMA?
If you are watching Edouard from Oklahoma, there is an important difference.
The National Weather Service office in Norman says Edouard is expected to weaken before reaching Oklahoma and does not currently appear likely to bring meaningful rainfall to the state. (National Weather Service)
So while Edouard is a major rainfall story for parts of Texas and Louisiana, Oklahoma is not currently expected to receive the same kind of rainfall from the storm.
KEEP WATCHING
The most important part of this storm is where the heaviest rain bands set up.
3 inches can cause problems.
5 inches can cause bigger problems.
And 9 inches or more in a short period can create a serious flooding situation.
Edouard may weaken as it moves inland, but its moisture can still produce dangerous rain.
So keep your weather alerts turned on.
Watch the radar.
And if a flood warning is issued for your area, take it seriously.
Edouard is a reminder that sometimes the biggest danger from a tropical storm isn’t the wind—it’s the water.
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