Tropical Storm Edouard tracking toward Texas with flooding downpours, wind
A strengthening tropical storm is tracking toward Texas will bring rounds of heavy rain and a growing flash flooding risk along the Gulf Coast.
The storm is expected to make landfall Tuesday, but another tropical threat could cause problems along the Southeast and Gulf coasts by Labor Day weekend.
Tropical Storm Edouard is gaining strength as it tracks across the northern Gulf, and is less than 24 hours away from making landfall in Texas.
A tropical storm warning has been issued by the National Hurricane Center from Port Bolivar, Texas, to the Vermilion/Cameron Parish Line in Louisiana.
The storm, which AccuWeather meteorologists dubbed a tropical rainstorm Sunday afternoon to raise public awareness, is raising the risk of flash flooding and travel disruptions that could persist through the middle of the week.
Due to the threat of flooding rain and gusty winds, Edouard is less than one on the AccuWeather RealImpact™ Scale for Hurricanes for the United States, or with the impacts of a tropical storm.
Unlike the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which accounts for wind speed only, the AccuWeather RealImpact™ Scale for Hurricanes considers a broader range of factors, including wind speed, flooding rain, storm surge and economic damage and loss.
This will be the third time this season that this region of the Gulf Coast has had direct tropical impacts, following Tropical Storm Arthur in June and Tropical Storm Bertha in July.
Showers and thunderstorms will reach upper Texas Monday night before expanding inland and farther northwest across northeastern Texas on Tuesday. Houston and surrounding communities may experience the most persistent rainfall from late Monday night through Tuesday.
A broad area of 1-2 inches of rainfall is forecast along the Louisiana coast and into eastern Texas from Sunday night to Wednesday. A corridor of heavier rainfall with totals of 2-8 inches is expected around Houston and the upper Texas coast. A smaller area of 8-12 inches is expected in a small stripe east of Houston.
Thunderstorms repeatedly tracking over the same communities may produce locally higher amounts. The AccuWeather Local StormMax™ is 20 inches from Sunday night through Wednesday.
Even where rainfall totals remain low, brief bursts of heavy rain may overwhelm storm drains and create ponding on streets and in low-lying areas. Motorists should be prepared for reduced visibility, flooded roads and possible travel delays, particularly during the Tuesday commutes.
Despite the likelihood of some flooding near the storm's core, any non-flooding rainfall will be beneficial for much of the region, due to abnormally dry to drought conditions.
In addition to flooding, Edouard may produce locally gusty winds, especially near the coast and within heavier thunderstorms. Rough surf and locally hazardous conditions for small craft are also anticipated over the northern Gulf.
Winds and coastal inundation are not expected to become as widespread or severe as they would with a major hurricane. However, there will be enough wind to lead to sporadic power outages with some minor coastal flooding likely.
After the storm moves inland over southeastern Texas, it will quickly lose wind intensity and organization on Wednesday. However, downpours may continue to cause localized flooding.
More tropical moisture will flow into the Gulf throughout the week, feeding additional showers and thunderstorms. This flow of tropical moisture will keep localized flooding concerns in place from Houston and New Orleans eastward through Tampa and Orlando, Florida.
Farther east, AccuWeather hurricane experts have identified a low risk of tropical development from the eastern Gulf and Florida Peninsula through the Bahamas and nearby Atlantic waters from Sept. 2-5.
Regardless of whether tropical development occurs, the continued flow of tropical moisture could bring additional heavy showers and thunderstorms to the Gulf Coast states and the Bahamas.
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