In southeastern Texas, heavy rainfall led to flooding on Thursday, particularly in Montgomery County, situated on the northern edge of Harris County and Houston.
Officials in Montgomery County issued a voluntary evacuation order as roads were closed due to flooding along the San Jacinto River.
National Weather Service meteorologist Hayley Adams reported that the area received approximately 5 to 8 inches (13 to 20 centimeters) of rain within 24 hours, with some areas experiencing up to 10 to 12 inches (25-30 centimeters).
Further rainfall was expected through Friday morning. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries or fatalities. The weather service issued flash flood warnings for Houston, including at Bush Intercontinental Airport.
The San Jacinto River Authority closed Lake Conroe in Montgomery County due to high water levels and began releasing water from the dam.
County officials cautioned that downstream flooding was imminent as water continued to be released.
Emergency management officials noted that the area could face flooding similar to that caused by Tropical Storm Imelda’s remnants in 2019, which brought over 40 inches (102 centimeters) of rain to some locations.
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