Tropical depression Beta brings heavy rain, dangerous flash flooding to Texas: Latest path

A flash flood watch has been issued from Victoria, Texas, to New Orleans.

ByMax Golembo, Emily Shapiro, and Melissa Griffin
September 22, 2020, 4:02 PM

Tropical depression Beta, which made landfall in Texas Monday night as a tropical storm, is pounding Houston with torrential rain and flash flooding -- and more rain is still expected for the city and surrounding areas.

The latest

Houston is buried under 1 foot of rain as rainfall rates reach up to 2 inches per hour on Tuesday.

Authorities have conducted nearly 100 water evacuations, said the Houston fire chief.

PHOTO: Water rises from the storm surge of Tropical Storm Beta in The Strand as the storm moves toward landfall, Sept. 21, 2020, in Galveston, Texas.
Water rises from the storm surge of Tropical Storm Beta in The Strand as the storm moves toward landfall, Sept. 21, 2020, in Galveston, Texas.
Brett Coomer/AP

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and the local authorities are urging people to stay home and off the roads.

Metro Houston said it's temporarily suspending transit services due to the storm.

The forecast

Beta is crawling northeast at an incredibly slow 2 mph.

Beta will continue to weaken over the next 24 hours, but the rain will continue. Flash flood watches are in effect from Victoria, Texas, to Houston to Lake Charles, Louisiana, to New Orleans.

PHOTO: Rafael Juarez rides his bicycle through a street flooded by Tropical Storm Beta as he makes his way home from the store, Sept. 21, 2020, in Galveston, Texas.
Rafael Juarez rides his bicycle through a street flooded by Tropical Storm Beta as he makes his way home from the store, Sept. 21, 2020, in Galveston, Texas.
Brett Coomer/AP
PHOTO: A man walks through a street flooded by Tropical Storm Beta, Sept. 21, 2020, in Galveston, Texas.
A man walks through a street flooded by Tropical Storm Beta, Sept. 21, 2020, in Galveston, Texas.
Brett Coomer/AP

The Weather Prediction Center has issued a high risk warning for flash flooding for Houston and Galveston through Wednesday morning.

By Wednesday morning, the rain will start to lighten up in Houston as the storm moves east -- Beta will finally pick up speed, bringing heavy rain to Louisiana on Wednesday and Thursday and then Mississippi on Thursday and Friday.

PHOTO: The forecast track for tropical depression Beta.
The forecast track for tropical depression Beta.
ABC News

The heaviest rain will hit New Orleans Tuesday night through Wednesday.

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