Imelda In Houston: Heavy Rains, Dangerous Flash Floods Possible

Tropical storm Imelda, which formed off the Texas coast Tuesday afternoon and made landfall near Freeport, has been downgraded to a tropical depression but the storm system is still expected to bring life-threatening flash floods.

A tropical storm warning that had been in effect for areas along the coast has since been canceled, however a flash flood watch remains in effect until Wednesday afternoon.

"However, the weakening of winds should not distract from the fact that heavy, flood producing rains remain the primary threat with this storm," the NWS wrote in an advisory. "These rains are still yet to reach their peak danger as the center of the depression slowly drifts around Southeast Texas in the coming days."

As of around 10 p.m. central time, Imelda was located about about 10 miles northwest of Houston. The main threat from Imelda includes life-threatening flash flooding along portions of the upper Texas coast, including the Houston and Galveston areas.

According to the NHC, 6-12 inches of rainfall are expected with isolated totals of 18 inches across the upper coastal region of Texas, including the Houston and Galveston area. In southeast Texas and southwest Lousiana, 4 to 6 inches of rainfall are possible with isolated totals of 10 inches.

The system had maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour when it made landfall. As it moved north, Imelda was packing wind speeds of 35 miles per hour with higher gusts. The storm is expected to gradually weaken over the next two days.

The center of the storm will move inland over the Upper Texas coast later on Tuesday and the move farther inland Tuesday night and Wednesday.

"Although the exact track and intensity of the storm are still unknown, Houston residents should pay close attention and begin taking steps in the event an emergency situation develops," Houston's Office of Emergency Management said in a statement.

The city's office of emergency management is telling residents to take the following steps to prepare for the storm:

Protective Actions
Prepare your home and review your plans before a storm impacts the area.

Steps to Take Now:

• Ensure your family has 5-7 days of food, water, and necessary supplies.
• This includes enough prescription medication for at least this duration, in case pharmacies and doctor's offices are closed.
• Consider the unique needs of small children, seniors, special needs family members, and pets.
• Decide what you and your family will do if the storm impacts your area. Most City of Houston residents are not vulnerable to storm surge and do not need to evacuate before a hurricane or tropical storm. Vulnerable residents who require electricity may also consider evacuation in advance of a major storm. For a map of hurricane evacuation zones and mandatory evacuation areas, visit: houstonoem.org/hurricanes
• Develop a family communication plan, so that you know who to check in with after a storm. Visit ready.gov for more information on developing a plan.
• Know how to turn off your utilities. This includes electricity, water, and gas. Only turn off gas if instructed by local officials or by CenterPoint Energy.

Monitor Official Sources for Current Information: Rumors and misinformation can be common before and during major storms. It is important to seek out official information from trusted sources.

This report will be updated.