4.6 Hurricane Harvey’s Flooding Across Harris County

Tuesday, 9 January 2018: 9:45 AM
Room 18B (ACC) (Austin, Texas)
Jeffry S. Evans, NOAA/NWS/Weather Forecast Office, Dickinson, TX; and J. Lindner

The city of Houston and Harris County lie along the flat coastal plain of the upper Texas coast where heavy rainfall and flooding are common hazards. This presentation will examine the correlation between intense, short-duration rainfall rates and significant flooding in Harris County by comparing data from several of the recent major rainfall events. While forecasters and storm-scale modeling tend to focus on total rainfall, flooding impacts around Houston seem to increase coincident with the rate of rainfall.

We will review instantaneous through 3-hourly rainfall rates, while comparing several events and their resultant impacts. Additionally, we will discuss how communication between the local National Weather Service Office, Harris County Flood Control District, and city/county Offices of Emergency Management plays a vital role helping to save lives and reduce property damage during these events.

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