In heavy downpours, Houston’s drainage systems can struggle to keep pace, and water levels can rise faster than drivers realize. Mason says patience after a storm can make a significant difference in safety.

A Flood Watch has been issued for the Houston area.

The region is under a flood watch until 4 a.m. Saturday. Jimmy Fowler, a meteorologist at the weather service's Houston-Galveston office, said Friday morning that 2-4 inches of rainfall is expected, with up to 4-6 inches in isolated locations.

Storm chances ramp up late this week, with a Weather Impact Alert now in place for Friday. Here’s what to watch for.

Weather in the next few days includes a hail risk Wednesday, followed by increasing rain chances and potential localized flooding later this week.

A flood-prone underpass near Franklin and Navigation in east Houston remains under investigation, as officials say identifying and repairing drainage issues could take several weeks.

Engineers at the University of Houston have unlocked decades of hidden flood risk data, using artificial intelligence to transform paper flood maps into digital tools that reveal how flooding has evolved—and where future risks are rising.

What's in the forecast? 90-degree temps and 100-degree heat index ahead of storms and a late-week cold front. Then cooler temperatures and rain.