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Flash flood threat continues across the South (with forecast video)

(Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

The remnants of Tropical Storm Beta flooded Houston with record rainfall Tuesday as the storm practically stalled over eastern Texas. The threat shifts into several other states over the next two days, with rainfall totals of up to 5 or 6 inches.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (ICAO code: IAH) reported a daily record rainfall of 3.58 inches, while the William P. Hobby Airport (ICAO code: HOU) received a whopping 7.32 inches, also a daily record.

People had to be rescued from their vehicles after getting stuck in flood waters, and sections of interstate highways were closed. As of Wednesday morning, the Texas Department of Transportation is reporting water across some roads, but no major closures.

Heavy rainfall could flood areas of far eastern Texas Wednesday, many parts of Louisiana, as well as western and central Mississippi. However, it won’t be as bad as what happened in Houston.


Drivers may run into delays and roadblocks on Interstates 10, 20 and 55, just to name a few. This will affect places like Beaumont and Port Arthur, Texas; Lake Charles, Baton Rouge, Alexandria and Monroe, Louisiana; in addition to Jackson, Vicksburg and Greenville, Mississippi.

The risk moves into much of Alabama and northern Georgia Thursday, including Atlanta, a consistently key freight market regarding outbound volumes.

Click here for more FreightWaves articles by Nick Austin.


Nick Austin

Nick is a meteorologist with 20 years of forecasting and broadcasting experience. He was nominated for a Midsouth Emmy for his coverage during a 2008 western Tennessee tornado outbreak. He received his Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from Florida State University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Management from the Georgia Tech. Nick is a member of the American Meteorological Society and National Weather Association. As a member of the weather team at WBBJ-TV in Jackson, Tennessee, Nick was nominated for a Mid-South Emmy for live coverage of a major tornado outbreak in February 2008. As part of the weather team at WRCB-TV in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Nick shared the Chattanooga Times-Free Press Best of the Best award for “Best Weather Team” eight consecutive years.