Weather WTF

[jimmy olsen]

Situation sounds dire 

https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/flooded-houston-braces-more-rain-rescues-continue-n796476

...

The Army Corps of Engineers announced early Monday that it had begun releasing water from both major Houston-area dams — something that has never been done before. That decision came after levels in the Barker and Addicks reservoirs "increased dramatically," by more than 6 inches per hour. Earlier Sunday, officials had said they didn't plan to open the Barker dam until 11 a.m. Wednesday.

While opening the two reservoirs will increase water levels and enhance flooding for those along Houston's Buffalo Bayou watershed, it's a better alternative than allowing the water to spill over and around the reservoirs into additional neighborhoods, Mayor Sylvester Turner told reporters Monday.

He added that the water would continue to be released gradually through noon — the equivalent of 8,000 cubic feet per second — and that the Army Corps is monitoring in real time how much water levels are rising.

As much as 40 inches of rain had fallen on areas near Houston, the country's fourth-largest city, in 24 hours as of Sunday night, the NWS said. And 15 to 25 more inches of rain could fall on a swath of the upper Texas coast to Lafayette, Louisiana, by Friday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the wettest tropical storm in U.S. history, Hurricane Hiki, yielded more than 52 inches of rain on Hawaii in 1950.

Rivers, meanwhile, are expected to crest later this week, exacerbating the dire situation.

"Results could be devastating if any of these rains fall where catastrophic flooding has already occurred," the National Weather Service warned.

...

[11B4V]

Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.

[CountDeMoney]

And lo, the Lord did say unto them, "Do not pave everything in sight, lest the floods wash you away," yet the peoples resisted and blasphemed and refused to think upon basic urban planning, and were smote.

[mongers]

So lazy urban planning has contributed towards turning the 4th biggest US city into a giant paddling pool? 

[jimmy olsen]

Well, that's not good
https://twitter.com/EricHolthaus/status/902199139173142528

Latest high-res NAM (12Z) model shows 12-20" for the Houston area, but 10-15" for New Orleans. That's really frightening w/ inop pump system

Before Harvey, city of New Orleans said a forecast of ~12" in 24hrs might require evacuating the city. That forecast is arguably here, now.

[Eddie Teach]

So lazy urban planning has contributed towards turning the 4th biggest US city into a giant paddling pool? 

At least it's mostly above sea level, unlike New Orleans.

[Admiral Yi]

So lazy urban planning has contributed towards turning the 4th biggest US city into a giant paddling pool? 

Why do you think that?

[jimmy olsen]

Refinery damaged by flooding

http://money.cnn.com/2017/08/28/news/companies/exxon-refinery-baytown-harvey-damage/index.html

[jimmy olsen]

Levees are going to start over flowing soon. They've continued to rise despite controlled releases.

http://www.khou.com/weather/hurricanes/hurricane-harvey/controlled-release-of-barker-addicks-reservoirs-to-impact-thousands/468348109

[jimmy olsen]

Addicks resivor is about to crest

https://mobile.twitter.com/BillKarins/status/902450000113930240

[Valmy]

So lazy urban planning has contributed towards turning the 4th biggest US city into a giant paddling pool? 

Houston famously doesn't do urban planning.

[jimmy olsen]

Addicks about to top out any minute

[jimmy olsen]

It's at 108.05 feet so it's over spilling around the edge now.

https://www.harriscountyfws.org/GageDetail/Index/2110?R=1

[Valmy]

It is going to make landfall again soon yes? We were expecting it to go right up East Texas but now it looks like it is headed further east in Caliga's direction.

[CountDeMoney]

So lazy urban planning has contributed towards turning the 4th biggest US city into a giant paddling pool? 

Houston famously doesn't do urban planning.

Those reservoirs were built in the late 1940s to protect a population of 450K, and they haven't seen a major improvement until 2016 for a population of 2.3M.

Sounds lazy to me.