A less active hurricane season never means Harris County is free from flood risk.

During a recent appearance on Hurricane Center Live, Harris County Flood Control District meteorologist Jeff Lindner discussed how rainfall data, forecasting tools, and real-time information help residents better understand changing flood conditions.

One of the Flood Control District’s key tools is the Harris County Flood Warning System, a network of rain and stream gages that provides real-time information across Harris County and surrounding areas.

Residents can use the system to monitor rainfall, track water levels in bayous and creeks, view estimated areas of inundation, or flooding, and sign up for alerts tied to specific gages.

Lindner explained that how quickly rain falls can be just as important as the total amount. In Harris County, very intense rainfall over a short period can quickly create street flooding, while several hours of heavy rain can begin pushing bayous and creeks higher.

The Flood Control District also uses radar to fill gaps between individual gages and is exploring newer technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, cameras and additional sensors, to improve future rainfall and water-level forecasting.

Harris County has made progress reducing flood risk, but no drainage system can eliminate flooding.

Extreme storms can still produce more water than streets, storm sewers, bayous, and creeks are designed to handle. That is why the Flood Control District focuses on reducing flood risk, not preventing flooding altogether.

Flooding can also happen outside FEMA-regulated floodplains when intense rainfall overwhelms local drainage systems.

Be Prepared

Residents can prepare by becoming familiar with the Flood Warning System, identifying nearby gages, signing up for alerts, and relying on trusted weather and flood information.

Lindner also encouraged residents to think beyond hurricane season, “We’ve put such an emphasis on hurricane season…but the movement I’m seeing more and more is a 365-day preparedness.” Flooding and other hazards can happen throughout the year, making preparedness a year-round responsibility.