- Flooding on Interstate 45 at Main on Wednesday morning, January 18th.
- (Photo Credit: TranStar Houston)
- (Photo Credit: TranStar Houston)
- (Photo Credit: TranStar Houston)
- (Photo Credit: Houston TranStar)
- (Photo Credit: TranStar Houston)
- (Photo Credit: Houston TranStar)
- (Photo Credit: Houston TranStar)
- Buffalo Bayou near Hobby Center. (Photo Credit: Linda Wilson)
- Tunnel leading from the parking garage at the Hyatt Regency at 1311 Louisiana. (Photo Credit: Linda Wilson)
- Flooding in downtown Houston. Courtesy of John A Williams
- Braes Bayou at MacGregor
- White Oak Bayou near Quitman Street.
- White Oak Bayou at Studemont.
- Drains overflow at White Oak Drive and Quitman Street.
- Houston Fire Department prepares for high-water rescues near White Oak Bayou.
- Street flooding at Quitman and White Oak Drive.
- White Oak Bayou over its banks at Quitman Street.
- City of Houston works to unclog drains at White Oak Drive and Quitman Street. (Photo Credit: Gail Delaughter)
- High water in January 2017 forced traffic to one lane on I-45 near Main Street. (Photo Credit: Gail Delaughter/Houston Public Media )
- An 18-wheeler attempts to detour through a residential neighborhood in Woodland Heights to avoid high water on I-45.
- Traffic was funneled to one lane on I-45 southbound at North Main Street.
- Overhead looking west on Dallas street toward the Galleria area. Courtesy of Linda Wilson
- Overhead looking west down Allen Parkway. Courtesy of Linda Wilson
The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Warning for western Harris County, northern Fort Bend County and northeastern Wharton County as thunderstorms produced heavy rain and flooding across the Greater Houston area Wednesday morning.
The Flash Flood Warning was in effect until 10:15 a.m. The National Weather Service also issued a flood warning for Keegans Bayou at Highway 59 in southwest Houston.
The weather service reported 4 to 6 inches of rain fell between 1:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m.
Thirty-seven high water locations were reported across Houston as of 9 a.m. Metro said high water shut down HOV Lanes and rail operations, except the Purple Line. Metro also reported that some buses had been detoured.
The Houston Fire Department reported over 65 water rescue calls since early Wednesday morning, mostly from residents whose vehicles were flooded on roadways across Houston, according to the city.
Locations expected to experience flooding included Sugar Land, northwestern Missouri City, Rosenberg, Stafford, Bellaire, Humble, West University Place, Katy, Richmond, Jacinto City, Hunters Creek Village, Bunker Hill Village, Piney Point Village, the Astrodome Area, Spring Valley, Greater Fifth Ward, Spring Branch West, Neartown/Montrose, Second Ward and Near Northside Houston.
Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches were possible in the warned areas, the weather service said. A second round of rain was expected in the afternoon hours as the first round began to shift to the northeast.
Residents were urged to avoid bayous, streams and creeks, and to delay traveling until the threat passed.
Closures/Delayed Openings:
The Houston Independent School district announced a two-hour delayed opening due to flooding, but asked employees to arrive as usual if possible. Fort Bend ISD delayed school openings and bus service for two hours due to the weather conditions. Texas Woman’s Houston University campus delayed classes until noon. Houston Community College, Texas Southern University and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston delayed opening until 10 a.m. Episcopal High School in Bellaire and the Presbyterian School of Houston announced closures for the day.
More information:
High Water Locations: traffic.houstontranstar.org
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston forecast updates: weather.gov/houston.
Harris County Rainfall Totals: www.harriscountyfws.org
City of Houston Emergency Information Site: houstontx.gov/emergency.