Newly-named Tropical Storm Imelda, nearing Freeport, Texas, is headed toward Houston, the nation’s oil, refining and chemical hub, carrying as much as 10 inches of rain and the threat of 'life-threatening' flash floods.
The system, with 40 mile (64 kilometer) per-hour winds, is traveling at 7 mph, the National Hurricane Center reported in a special advisory. It should move inland toward the Houston-Galveston area within 12 to 18 hours, said Ryan Truchelut, president of Weather Tiger LLC in Tallahassee, Florida.
Imelda is forecast to hit a community that has a long history of widespread flooding in large rain storms. Hurricane Harvey brought record rain in 2017, and there have been 11 other instances of severe flooding in the area since 2015, according to the Houston-based Weather Research Center.
"Definitely the next three days are the three days for them to be worried about,” said Bob Oravec, a senior branch forecaster at the U.S. Weather Prediction Center, referring to the Houston area. "Even after it passes there will be a lot of moisture in its wake.”
The six-month hurricane season, which ends Nov. 30, is in its most active phase, likely lasting through early October. With Imelda, nine storms have been named, with a 10th storm on the cusp that’s now circulating in the central Atlantic. That system has the potential to reach the Bahamas next week, according to the hurricane center.
Since Jan. 1, the amount of rain hitting Houston, the fourth-largest U.S. city, has been a little less than normal, and Texas generally has been gripped by drought. So the expected deluge is somewhat of a turnaround for the region.
In 2017, Hurricane Harvey paralyzed Houston with about 40,000 people forced out of their homes by flooding and 30,000 water rescues occurring during the storm. A record 60.6 inches (153.9 centimeters) fell near Nederland, Texas, about 90 miles east of Houston.
Houston bills itself as the energy capital of the world and is home to about 4,600 energy-related firms that employ more than 237,000, according to the Greater Houston Partnership.
Imelda isn’t the only threat in the Atlantic. A tropical depression in the central Atlantic could become the latest storm menacing the Bahamas next week as Hurricane Jerry with 90 mph winds, the U.S. National Hurricane Center reports.
Two weeks ago, parts of the Bahamas were devastated by 185 mph winds from Hurricane Dorian, killing at least 50 and leveling businesses and homes. Hurricane Humberto brushed past the island nation last week.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Humberto is moving toward Bermuda, which has issued a hurricane watch.
