The National Weather Service expects heavy rain to begin near Matagorda Bay on Saturday evening and spread across Southeast Texas on Sunday, Nov. 15. Its Saturday afternoon forecast calls for 3 to 6 inches south of Interstate 10, with isolated totals potentially reaching 6 to 8 inches near the coast. Streets and low-lying areas with poor drainage could flood if storms repeatedly cross the same area.
Forecasters expect a line of storms to move into the Brazos Valley by mid to late Sunday morning, reach metropolitan Houston from late morning into early afternoon and move offshore by late afternoon. The weather service expects widespread totals of 1 to 3 inches north of I-10. In the heaviest coastal downpours, rain could fall at more than 2 to 3 inches an hour. Forecasters are watching for rivers to rise near Matagorda Bay, particularly the San Bernard and Tres Palacios.
The Weather Prediction Center puts areas near and south of I-10 in a slight risk of excessive rainfall Sunday, the second of four risk levels. The Houston/Galveston office also says some storms could bring damaging winds and hail. The strongest storms, if they form, are most likely west of Interstate 45.
Roads and coastal waters
If you plan to drive during the storms, check DriveTexas for state highway conditions and Houston TranStar for Houston-area traffic. Turn around if water covers the road. Leave extra time if your route crosses a low-lying underpass or a stretch that floods during heavy rain.
The weather service lists a small craft advisory for the bays and Gulf waters until 6 p.m. Central Sunday. A gale watch follows for Sunday evening into Monday. Forecasters expect the roughest conditions offshore after the front moves out over the Gulf.
