Houston has been hit with catastrophic flooding, prompting water rescues and mandatory evacuations in nearby communities. The flood watch has been extended into Sunday as heavy rain continues to fall in South Texas, including Harris County. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo declared a disaster on Thursday as first responders worked to rescue residents and animals from the rising waters. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office reported rescuing 178 people and 122 pets, while Montgomery County officials rescued 52 people from life-threatening situations and evacuated 338 from their homes. The American Red Cross has opened nine shelters in Texas and provided aid to those affected by the flooding.
Four million people across the Southern High Plains are at risk for strong to severe thunderstorms on Saturday night, with hail, tornadoes, and damaging winds all possible. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo indicated in a video posted on Friday that the water along the East Fork of the San Jacinto River had almost fully covered mailboxes and reached the roofs of homes in some areas. A flood watch has been in effect for Houston until Sunday afternoon, with an additional 1 to 3 inches of rain possible. The National Weather Service in Houston warned of isolated thunderstorms and advised residents to stay away from floodwaters as river flooding continues in the region. Parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and east Texas are also under flood alerts as 18 million people are affected by the dangerous weather.
In Las Vegas, a High Wind Warning was issued with possible gusts between 40 to 60 mph expected, leading to the cancellation of Usher’s Lovers & Friends Festival on Saturday. The National Weather Service urged residents to stay safe in the gusty winds as the low-pressure system brings rain, mountain snow, and strong winds to the West Coast. Wind alerts are in place for 9 million people in the region, including Las Vegas, Reno, and Santa Barbara. Northern California through Washington will see heavy rain on Saturday, with showers moving south and east towards the Rockies into Sunday. The cancellation of the festival left Usher disappointed, but he expressed gratitude to his fans for their continued support.
The American Red Cross has been providing aid to residents in Texas affected by the flooding, with nine shelters open and more than 370 overnight stays provided for nearly 230 residents. The organization stands ready to respond to increased demand as the flooding continues. The severe weather conditions across the Southern High Plains have put four million people at risk for strong to severe thunderstorms, with hail, tornadoes, and damaging winds possible. The National Weather Service has extended the flood watch for Houston until Sunday afternoon, with additional heavy rainfall expected. Residents are being urged to stay weather aware and avoid floodwaters as river flooding persists in the region.
Other parts of the country have also been impacted by dangerous weather, with rainfall extending over parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and east Texas by Sunday. Approximately 18 million people in the region are under flood alerts as the severe weather continues. In Las Vegas, a High Wind Warning has been issued with gusts of 40 to 60 mph expected, leading to the cancellation of Usher’s Lovers & Friends Festival. The West Coast is experiencing rain, mountain snow, and strong winds as a low-pressure system pushes onshore. Wind alerts are in place for 9 million people, with heavy rain expected from northern California through Washington on Saturday before moving towards the Rockies on Sunday.
