…Another daily record rainfall record set today at Jamaica Beach and Galveston… 

The weather disturbance that has been located over the western Gulf of Mexico for the past several days sent another round of very heavy thunderstorms onshore Galveston Island early this morning.  The torrential downpours, that reduced visibility to near zero at times along with some street flooding, led to more daily rainfall records being set today at both of the island’s official weather stations. 

At the Jamaica Beach Weather Observatory (JBHT2)…a total of 3.65 inches of rainfall has fallen so far today since Midnight CST (1:00 AM CDT).  This establishes a new daily rainfall record for July 3^rd breaking the previous record of 2.44 inches set on July 3, 2003.  Weather records in Jamaica Beach date back to December 1, 1990.  The three-day storm total at Jamaica Beach is now 5.93 inches. 

At Scholes International Airport in Galveston (GLS)…a total of 2.86 inches of rainfall has fallen so far today since Midnight CST (1:00 AM CDT).  This also established a new daily rainfall record for July 3^rd breaking the previous record of 1.73 inches set on July 3, 1942.  Weather records in Galveston date back to 1871. 

The National Weather Service has reissued the Flood Watch for Southeast Texas that will go into effect at Midnight CDT tonight and remain in effect until 6:00 PM CDT Tuesday.  More heavy thunderstorms are expected to form over the Gulf of Mexico late tonight and begin spreading inland during the pre-dawn hours Tuesday lasting throughout most of the day.  The atmosphere is extremely moist and unstable with very high precipitable water values.  This means that several inches of rainfall could occur in a very short time period leading to flash flooding.  If you encounter high water in your vehicle…DO NOT attempt to drive through it.  Instead, turn around or abandon your vehicle and seek higher ground.  Most deaths in flash floods occur when persons try to drive into flood waters of an unknown depth.  Continue to monitor the latest updates and weather watches and warnings from the National Weather Service on this flash flood threat. 

Jim O’Donnel
Jamaica Beach Weather Observatory