WeatherFanatics: Odile Delivers Texas Rain Benefits vs. Flooding Hazards

Friday, September 19, 2014

Odile Delivers Texas Rain Benefits vs. Flooding Hazards

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist

September 19,2014; 9:44PM,EDT

As impact from Odile continues over the Southwest and Texas this weekend, the system will be remembered for both flooding and drought-busting rain.
According to AccuWeather Chief Operating Officer Evan Myers, "This is a case of short-term pain and long-term gain."
Enough rain may fall to bring significant rises on streams and rivers, but also fill reservoirs and replenish aquifers in the region.

The rain will help green-up grazing lands, boost soil moisture and settle into the ground.
The slow-moving nature of Odile and interaction of tropical moisture with a stalled front have been the key players in torrential rainfall from southeastern Arizona to southern New Mexico and western and coastal Texas.
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Parts of the region have received more than 5 inches of rain this past week. Some locations have received two months worth of rain in as many days.

This map shows total, measured rainfall (inches) during the seven-day period ending on Friday, Sept. 19, 2014. (NOAA/Graphic)
While more rain is needed to totally wipe out the deficit in the region, the moisture will go a long way in impacting drought in the region.
Additional rain will fall this weekend, centered on western Texas and eastern New Mexico. Enough rain will fall through this weekend to cause flooding in low-lying areas of fields, as well as flash, urban and small stream flooding. Washes that have been dry for months may suddenly fill with water.

According to Texas Weather Expert Dan Kottlowski, "Highways and railroads that cross these washes may be impassable, and travel through these areas may be very dangerous."
Meanwhile, the persistent heavy rain that has been affecting the Houston area will diminish to spotty showers and thunderstorms as the weekend progresses.
While the core of the rain focuses over an area roughly the size of Ohio this weekend in the South Central states, spotty drenching showers and thunderstorms will expand northwestward. Sporadic rainfall can reach portions of Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and parts of California through Sunday.
The storms can bring isolated incidents of both flash flooding and gusty winds.

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