Harris County residents should prepare for possible heavy rainfall and potential flash flooding through Thursday afternoon (January 3) as a weather system moves across the North and Northwest sections of the county.
The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch from 6 a.m. this morning to Noon Thursday for Harris and surrounding counties. Rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches with locally higher amounts are possible in and around the watch area. Some watersheds may rise to levels that would impact low-lying areas and roadways near creeks and bayous.
Watersheds that may experience significant rises in water levels include areas along Spring Creek, Cypress Creek, Little Cypress Creek, Willow Creek, Cedar Bayou, and the creeks that feed into Addicks and Barker reservoirs. Rises in water levels also are likely along lower Greens Bayou (east of US 59), Halls Bayou, and Hunting Bayou. The East and West Forks of the San Jacinto River above Lake Houston are still elevated from last week’s rain and are falling. Forecast rain amounts of 1 to 3 inches will cause street flooding along low-lying areas and roadways near the rivers’ banks, but the likelihood of structure flooding is low.