5 PM WEATHER UPDATE:
Little has changed since the 11AM brief we sent out. One thing that has changed is that the period of time that the NWS expects heaviest rain to fall has extended into most of Thursday, instead of just throughout the day on Wednesday.
They are still forecasting strong to severe thunderstorms with very heavy rainfall (4 8 inches generally, with up to 12" in some areas), lightning, straight-line winds of 58+ mph and a significant potential of tornadoes spun out of severe thunderstorms. Low lying areas, typical streets, and areas adjacent to ditches, streams and creeks/bayous are at some risk of flooding, especially if we experience very heavy rainfall rates as forecast (2" 3" per hour). Tides will be 1' 3' above normal.
A warning. Over the next hour or so, we may see some breaks in the rainfall and in the cloud covereven some sunshine. Don't be fooled: the bulk of the storm event is ahead and will start after dark, probably around 9pm and degrade thereafter.
Remember that flooded roads can be difficult to follow, so DO NOT drive, bike or walk into flooded roads that you cannot see road bed! In every significant flood event in our region, several people die accidently falling or driving into ditches, canals and bayous in the dark.
