Tropical Depression #2 Means Heavy Rain and Coastal Flooding

Tropical Depression #2 has formed in the Gulf and will probably become Tropical Storm Bonnie before making landfall in northern Mexico or south Texas. Biggest problem will be flooding rains (Houston could get 5 to 6 inches) on top of saturated ground and swollen waterways. The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch which is in effect into Thursday evening. Also, there is coastal flooding already and a Coastal Flood Warning is in effect for Galveston, Chambers and Brazoria counties and a Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect for Harris County.

Here is the official advisory:
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HOUSTON/GALVESTON HAS ISSUED A
COASTAL FLOOD WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO
7 PM CDT THURSDAY. THE COASTAL FLOOD WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

TIDES ARE CURRENTLY RUNNING 2 FEET ABOVE NORMAL. EXPECT LEVELS
TO INCREASE ANOTHER 1/2 FOOT TONIGHT AS MODERATE TO STRONG SOUTHEAST WINDS
AND SEAS INCREASE. AFTER ADDING THE ASTRONOMICAL HIGH TIDE OF AROUND 2 FEET
TO THIS...IT WILL PRODUCE A TOTAL TIDE BETWEEN 4 AND 4.5 FEET ALONG THE GULF
FACING BEACHES WHICH WILL CREATE COASTAL FLOOD PROBLEMS AT THE SUSCEPTIBLE SPOTS.
THIS INCLUDES THE BOLIVAR PENINSULA...WESTERN GALVESTON ISLAND...BLUE WATER HIGHWAY
AND SURFSIDE. WAVE RUN UP WILL ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO EVEN HIGHER LEVELS. THE LOWEST
LYING BAYSIDE LOCATIONS COULD ALSO SEE WATER LEVELS PUSH ABOVE BULKHEADS
AND INTO YARDS AND ROADS. THE HIGHEST THREAT OF FLOODING WILL OCCUR AROUND
HIGH TIDE AT EACH LOCATION. IN ADDITION TO HIGH WATER LEVELS...HIGH SURF WILL
CREATE STRONG RIP CURRENTS SO SWIMMING IS DISCOURAGED.

THIS WARNING MAY NEED TO BE EXTENDED THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT.

NOTE...HIGH TIDE LEVELS ARE REFERENCED FROM MEAN LOWER LOW WATER.

LOCATION TIDE TIMES EXPECTED
WATER LEVEL
ROLLOVER PASS...
WED 10:50 PM 1.9 FEET
THU 8:59 AM 3.4 FEET

EAGLE POINT...
WED 10:25 PM 2.0 FEET
THU 10:41 AM 3.5 FEET

GALVESTON CHANNEL (PIER 21)...
WED 7:38 PM 1.5 FEET
THU 4:50 AM 3.5 FEET

GALVESTON PLEASURE PIER...
WED 6:31 PM 2.1 FEET
THU 3:14 AM 4.4 FEET

FREEPORT USCG...
WED 6:12 PM 2.1 FEET
THU 3:53 AM 4.1 FEET
THU 6:58 PM 2.1 FEET

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A COASTAL FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR
IMMINENT. COASTAL RESIDENTS IN THE WARNED AREA SHOULD BE ALERT FOR
RISING WATER...AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO PROTECT LIFE AND
PROPERTY.

Rio Grande Valley concerns include a very swollen Rio Grande River.

Pay attention to the weather and remember not to drive through flooded areas.

Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman