Courtesy of Weather Channel weather producer, Matthew Sitkowski, here is a photo of what Houston's East Loop at Market Street on the I-610 looks like right now. As Sitkowski says, "this image and the forecast of what is still to fall.... This is surreal." He is right: we added a photo of the same location from February 2016 to show the "before and after." Here is the result:
And another before and after photo, courtesy of Twitter user Chris Tycksen, showing downtown Houston:
And just the after:
Downtown Houston Flooding #htx #houston https://t.co/zlR8f5Z6FU
— Chris Tycksen (@Ctycksen) August 27, 2017
The following time-lapse video shows the Buffalo Bayou next to Houston rising over the past day...
Buffalo bayou rising in Houston — Stay safe everyone#hurricane #harvey #houston #bayou #flood #flooding #texas #weather #hurricaneharvey pic.twitter.com/5Scs7n8MSw
— DoubleHorn Photo (@DoubleHornPhoto) August 26, 2017
... and its current state:
Daylight reveals the extent of flooding in Houston #hurricane #harvey #Houston buffalobayoupark #flood #flooding #… https://t.co/YCyGkAJg6M pic.twitter.com/wAYU7zZz7G
— DoubleHorn Photo (@DoubleHornPhoto) August 27, 2017
Aerial video shows Buffalo Bayou Park in Houston as Harvey causes severe flooding in Texas https://t.co/iJHbYTFT7I
— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 27, 2017
Video via @avmidas pic.twitter.com/cVV8fI63fs
The rapid raise of the Buffalo Bayou prompted the evacuation of the KHOU 11 TV studio early on Sunday morning:
Water is seeping into the studio from Buffalo Bayou. About to move broadcast to second floor. #Harvey #KHOU11 pic.twitter.com/LH80mf2uql
— Janelle Bludau (@JanelleKHOU) August 27, 2017
Water coming into studio at #KHOU11... We are moving upstairs. pic.twitter.com/MMEljNatw7
— Doug Delony (@DougDelonyKHOU) August 27, 2017
Unfortunately, there is no relief in sight, as over 20 inches of rain have already fallen on the Lone Star State. With streets flooded and strewn with power lines and debris, authorities warned the storm's most destructive powers were just beginning. Rainfall that will continue for days could dump more than five feet of water and inundate many communities, including dangerously flood-prone Houston, the nation's fourth-largest city. The latest summary of rainfall in the past 24 hours can be found here. Another 20 to 30 inches of rain is expected through to Wednesday.
Meanwhile, a just issued bulletin from the NWS Houston warns that "rivers are on the rise and MAJOR to RECORD flooding is forecast."
Rivers are on the rise and MAJOR to RECORD flooding is forecast. #houwx #glswx #Harvey #txwx pic.twitter.com/FHf4N50xku
— NWS Houston (@NWSHouston) August 27, 2017
By the time the storm ends, 40 inches of rain (a number which now appears conservative) is expected to fall and an estimated $40 billion worth of damage left behind. Putting the number in context, Hurricane Katrina cost $108 billion, mostly as a result of flooding to New Orleans.
For locals trapped in their house as floodwaters rise, the NWS Houston had some words of advice: "EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HAS REQUESTED: IF HIGHEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME BECOMES DANGEROUS...GET ON THE ROOF."
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HAS REQUESTED: IF HIGHEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME BECOMES DANGEROUS...GET ON THE ROOF. #houwx #glswx #txwx #Harvey pic.twitter.com/rG3dsdQUxu
— NWS Houston (@NWSHouston) August 27, 2017
It's not just Houston: the following stunning video of Dickinson, TX, shows numerous boats maneuvering around stranded vehicles on flooded street.
Astounding video shows numerous boats maneuvering around stranded vehicles on flooded street in Dickinson, Texas. https://t.co/YGP3fEVW8t pic.twitter.com/LHM5SbVftF
— Evan McMurry (@evanmcmurry) August 27, 2017
Finally, here is a clip from the US Coast Guard shows showing the devastation around the coastline:
#USCG Video: Coast Guard assess the aftermath of damage caused by #HurricaneHarvey during their search and rescue operations. pic.twitter.com/23eSED1ka5
— USCG Heartland (@USCGHeartland) August 27, 2017