Rainfall main unknown as Beta approaches Texas coast

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By JUAN A. LOZANO

HOUSTON (AP) — As Tropical Storm Beta neared the Texas coast Monday, the biggest unknown was how much rainfall it could produce in areas that have already seen their share of damaging weather during a busy hurricane season.

Beta’s winds were weakening as it got closer to making landfall sometime Monday evening and the storm was not expected to strengthen into a hurricane. But its path along the Texas coast over the next couple of days once it gets inland could produce bands of showers with heavy rainfall, forecasters said. Rain from Beta was already coming down Monday in the Houston area.

“This still is probably the most uncertain part of the forecast,” Dan Reilly, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in the Houston-Galveston office, said about rainfall from Beta.

Earlier predictions of up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) in some areas were downgraded Monday to up to 15 inches (38 centimeters). Texas coastal counties were most likely to see 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) with 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) farther inland, Reilly said.



A flooded streets in Rockport, Texas, as Tropical Storm Beta approaches on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020. (Courtney Sacco/Corpus Christi Caller-Times via AP)

Read more: https://apnews.com/cbdcd9fb4dba26d347d2a5a43781a2df

[Warpy]

1. This one is going to move very, very slowly along the Gulf Coast

Wind and storm surge won't be problems, it has strengthened only to a tropical storm.

If people rebuilt in wetland areas after Harvey and didn't put their new homes on pilings, the same tragedy will reoccur.

And of course Texas lets them rebuild on slabs.

[johnnyrocket]

2. At this rate, we're going to run out of Greek letters! Then what?

[fleur-de-lisa]

3. Almost non-stop rain in New Orleans since Friday night and projected to keep raining thru Thursday.

At least it's been mostly light to moderate levels of rain. Very breezy though for days!

New Orleans has received more rain and wind out of this little storm than Hurricanes Laura, Marco, and Sally combined.