A massive flooding event is underway in Houston, where pretty much the entire region is completely shut down.
If you are reading this from the Houston area and you do not have to go out, please do not.
This flood event seem to be rivaling that of Tropical Storm Allison, June of 2001, still one of the most damaging flood events in US history.
The storm system causing this is the result of the interaction between several weather systems and a direct connection to the deep tropics. In the Gulf, this is called “The Maya Express.” This is actually the first year I’ve heard of the term, and I’m currently researching it to see when it first appeared in the literature. It seems closely related to the “Pineapple Express” on the West Coast. From NWS Houston:
SEVERE...HISTORIC FLOOD EVENT ONGOING. SEVERAL FLASH FLOOD
WARNINGS AND FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCIES IN EFFECT FROM SLOW MOVING
BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS. MULTIPLE HIGH WATER RESCUES REPORTED AND
STRUCTURES BEING FLOODED. UNFORTUNATELY BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS TO
IMPACT AREAS ALREADY HAVING RECEIVED HEAVY RAIN FOR POTENTIALLY SEVERAL
MORE HOURS.
WORST CASE SCENARIO AS DEEP MOISTURE ADVECTING IN OFF THE GULF
AND BEING FOCUSED ALONG E TO W BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY
LITTLE MOVEMENT. MODELS HAVE STRUGGLED TO CAPTURE PLACEMENT AND
TIMING OF CONVECTION AND DIFFICULT GOING FORWARD AS WELL. NOT MUCH
CHANGE IN THE PATTERN IS EXPECTED THROUGH TUESDAY. THROUGH TUESDAY
EXPECT ADDITIONAL ROUNDS OF HEAVY RAIN WHICH WILL ONLY EXACERBATE
FLOODING ALREADY ONGOING. DIFFICULT TO TIME THINGS BUT
THUNDERSTORM COMPLEXES WILL GENERALLY BE SLOW MOVING. CONCERN IS
THEY WILL OCCUR IN SIMILAR AREAS. HAVE HAD TO RAISE POPS WEDNESDAY
AS WELL AS MODELS SHOWING ANOTHER VORT LOBE PIVOTING AROUND UPPER
LOW LIKELY BRINGING MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. REALLY DONT DRY OUT UNTIL POSSIBLY FRIDAY AS MODELS SUGGEST RIDGING AT SURFACE AND ALOFT. 46
Please post warnings and observations in the diary below. WxCenter group members should be able to add updates to the diary itself. I will update this as I am able during the day.
Monday, Apr 18, 2016 · 3:55:49 PM +00:00
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terrypinder
After seeing many images of water rescues, including a dramatic one where a television reporter dove into floodwaters to save a trapped driver, I’m wondering how effective the “Turn Around, Don’t Drown” campaign has been. If anyone’s aware of any recent social science on this, let me know and I’ll add it to a future diary.