Life-threatening flash flooding is ongoing Wednesday morning north and east of Houston as Tropical Depression Edouard moves through the Piney Woods.
LIVE UPDATES: Flash flood emergency issued for 2 Texas counties, up to 21 inches of rain.
Although the heaviest rain has remained north and east of Houston, a flash flood emergency and multiple flash flood warnings are in effect across the Piney Woods. More downpours could develop closer to Houston later Wednesday, keeping the threat of flooding in place through the evening and possibly into Thursday morning.
The most dangerous conditions are in Hardin and Tyler counties, where a flash flood emergency remains in effect through 10:45 a.m. Wednesday. The warning includes Kountze and Lumberton, as well as surrounding communities.
Between 10 and 21 inches of rain had fallen across parts of the flash flood emergency area in Hardin and Tyler counties as of 5:46 a.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service office in Lake Charles, La.
Flash flood warnings also remain in effect for parts of Liberty, Montgomery, San Jacinto and Polk counties, including areas near Cleveland, Splendora, Livingston and Lake Livingston State Park. In southeastern Polk and eastern San Jacinto counties, 9 to 13 inches of rain had fallen. Northeastern Liberty County had received 4 to 15 inches, while parts of northwestern Liberty, eastern Montgomery and southeastern San Jacinto counties had received 1 to 4 inches.
Flood advisories are also in effect for parts of Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity and Walker counties, where heavy rainfall has caused or could soon cause minor flooding in low-lying and poorly drained areas.
One advisory covers northern Polk and central Trinity counties, including Groveton and Corrigan. Between an inch and 5 inches of rain had fallen there as of early Wednesday morning, with another inch to 3 inches possible.
EDOUARD PATH: Follow the path of the fifth named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season as it moves through Southeast Texas.
A second advisory covers parts of western Polk, northwestern San Jacinto, southwestern Trinity and northeastern Walker counties, including Trinity, Onalaska and Point Blank. Between an inch and 3 inches of rain had fallen in that area, with another 1 to 2 inches possible.
Tropical Depression Edouard will keep rain in the forecast across Southeast Texas Wednesday, with the greatest concern remaining north and east of Houston.
Rain should ease somewhat later this morning, but downpours will remain possible across the Piney Woods. The heaviest rainfall is expected north of Interstate 10 and along and east of Interstate 45, where the Weather Prediction Center has placed the area under a level 3 of 4 risk, or at least a 40% chance, for flash flooding.
Some of the rain could shift closer to Houston and the Interstate 10 corridor this afternoon, possibly before the evening commute. A few hours of heavy downpours could drop 2 to 4 inches of rain, creating new flooding on streets and in low-lying areas.
Conditions will vary widely across the region. Some neighborhoods may see only a few showers, while others could quickly pick up several inches if heavy rain lingers overhead or repeatedly moves across the same area.
Despite many communities across the Houston area missing out on the heaviest rain through Wednesday morning, a flood watch remains in effect through 7 p.m. for much of the region, including Harris, Montgomery, Waller, Walker, Liberty, San Jacinto and Polk counties. The watch also covers parts of East Texas and areas farther east toward the Louisiana border.
Fort Bend, Galveston and Brazoria counties, which were included in the initial flood watch, are no longer under the watch.
The National Weather Service said the heaviest downpours could produce rainfall rates of 3 to 4 inches per hour. That much rain could quickly overwhelm streets, drainage systems, creeks and other flood-prone locations.
The flood threat may continue after the watch expires. The Weather Prediction Center expects another increase in rain late Wednesday night into early Thursday as Edouard's circulation remains over the region. Areas that receive heavy rain Wednesday could be especially vulnerable to additional flooding overnight.
Anyone who encounters water covering a roadway should turn around rather than attempt to drive through it. Floodwaters can rise quickly, especially after dark.
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This article originally published at Houston flood risk continues as Edouard moves through Piney Woods. What comes next?.