Southeast Texas Under Flash Flood Warnings

June 21, 2018
As hurricane season picks up, coastal Texas communities worry over flood management efforts

Heavy rains have triggered flash flood warnings in sections of coastal southeast Texas, including Aransas, Goliad, Refugio, Hidalgo and Bee counties. While not a tropical storm on par with Hurricane Harvey which devastated the area last summer, the rainfall has led to standing water and sinkholes in some communities. The rain is fueled by an upper-level low-pressure system expected to linger in the area through Thursday, according to the Weather Channel.

The National Weather Service warned southeast Texans to seek higher ground and avoid driving on flooded roads. Flash flooding was reported in Hidalgo County and in the city of McAllen several sinkholes developed from the water pressure. The Corpus Christi weather service tweeted that 12.89 in. of rain fell between 7 a.m. Monday and 7 a.m. Wednesday. In Port Arthur, Texas, the airport broke their daily rainfall record at 5.89 in. in a 24-hour period, according to CNN.

Many impacted residents are still recovering from Hurricane Harvey and working to rebuild homes devastated by the Category 4 storm.