Tropical downpours to raise flash flood risk in South Texas
While there is no longer a risk of a short-lived tropical depression or storm forming in the southwestern Gulf, pockets of heavy rain could still trigger flash flooding into the weekend.
The AccuWeather Enhanced RealVue™ Satellite from Friday morning, Aug. 15, shows a cluster of showers and thunderstorms just offshore of South Texas and northeastern Mexico.
A batch of showers and thunderstorms in the southwestern Gulf is expected to enhance downpours across South Texas into Saturday. AccuWeather hurricane experts caution that localized flooding may still occur, even though the system has lost its chance to organize into a tropical depression or storm.
The small window for tropical development closed early Friday afternoon as the main cluster of showers and thunderstorms tracked inland over northeastern Mexico and South Texas. This system originated earlier this week in the western Caribbean and traveled thousands of miles into the southwest Gulf by the end of the week.
"A surge of tropical moisture is expected to soak parts of southern and central Texas," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said. "People in areas prone to flash flooding should be on alert."
Heavy rainfall is expected to be localized, potentially focused near the coast or in inland areas with elevated terrain across South Texas. Drivers should watch for ponding on roadways and periods of reduced visibility.
The greatest risk for pockets of heavy rainfall and flash flooding extends from the lower Rio Grande Valley to near San Antonio and parts of the Texas Hill Country, where flash flooding tragically claimed over 100 lives at campsites along the Guadalupe River in early July.
The batch of moisture should disperse and dissipate quickly as it encounters dry air later Saturday into Sunday.
There are no other immediate tropical threats emerging from the Gulf in the coming days. Meanwhile, Erin became the Atlantic basin's first hurricane on Friday morning ahead of a brush with the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico this weekend. Erin is expected to pass between the East Coast of the United States and Bermuda next week, churning up dangerous surf and rip currents.
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