Tropical Storm Imelda
Tropical Storm Imelda was the fifth-wettest tropical cyclone on record in the continental United States, causing devastating and record-breaking floods in southeast Texas. The eleventh tropical cyclone and ninth named storm of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season, Imelda formed out of an upper-level low that developed in the Gulf of Mexico and moved westward. Little development occurred until the system was near the Texas coastline, where it rapidly developed into a tropical storm before moving ashore shortly afterward on September 17. Imelda weakened after landfall, but continued bringing large amounts of flooding rain to Texas and Louisiana, before dissipating on September 21.
Impacts began when Imelda made landfall as a weak tropical storm. The system brought heavy rain and dangerous flooding to parts of southeastern Texas as its motion gradually slowed over land. Dozens of water rescues were needed by September 19 as areas became overwhelmed by the rainfall, with some areas experiencing over of rain. Total damage is estimated in excess of $5 billion.
Meteorological history
On September 14, the National Hurricane Center began monitoring an upper-level low off the west coast of Florida for possible tropical development. During the next several days, the system moved westward across the Gulf of Mexico, though the NHC gave the disturbance only a low chance of development. By September 17, the system had reached the east coast of Texas. Soon afterward, organization in the system rapidly increased, and at 17:00 UTC that day, the system organized into Tropical Depression Eleven, just off the coast of Texas. At 17:45 UTC, an observation deck at Freeport, Texas recorded sustained winds of 40 mph with gusts of 47 mph, indicating that the depression had strengthened to Tropical Storm Imelda. Shortly thereafter, at 18:30 UTC, Imelda made landfall near Freeport, Texas at peak intensity, with maximum 1-minute sustained winds of 45 mph and a minimum central pressure of. Imelda weakened after landfall, becoming a tropical depression at 03:00 UTC on the next day. At that time, the NHC passed on the responsibility for issuing advisories to the Weather Prediction Center.Imelda retained status as a tropical depression over land for the next 2 days, gradually weakening and slowing its motion, before degenerating to an remnant low on September 19, as it began passing over Louisiana; Imelda's remnants continued producing heavy rain and a few isolated tornadoes. Imelda's remnants persisted for another couple of days, before dissipating early on September 21.
Impacts
| 1 | 1538.7 | 60.58 | Harvey 2017 | Nederland | |
| 2 | 1219.2 | 48.00 | Amelia 1978 | Medina | |
| 3 | 1143.0 | 45.00 | Claudette 1979 | Alvin coop site | |
| 4 | 1096 | 43.15 | Imelda 2019 | Jefferson County | |
| 5 | 1033.3 | 40.68 | Allison 2001 | Moore Road Detention Pond | |
| 6 | 1008.6 | 39.71 | September Hurricane 1921 | Thrall | |
| 7 | 762.0 | 30.00 | September T.S. 1936 | Broome | |
| 8 | 755.9 | 29.76 | Unnamed 1960 | Port Lavaca #2 | |
| 9 | 695.5 | 27.38 | Beulah 1967 | Pettus | |
| 10 | 688.3 | 27.10 | Alice 1954 | Pandale |
Throughout the morning of September 19, Imelda caused widespread flooding to southeast Texas and the Houston Area, causing many of the local bayous to overtop their banks and flood residential areas. More than 1,000 people were rescued from floodwaters. All bus and rail services were temporarily shut down in Houston. A roof of a United States Postal Service building collapsed, leaving three people with minor injuries. George Bush Intercontinental Airport closed for about 90 minutes due to flooding on the runways, canceling 655 flights. Over of rain fell in Beaumont. inches of rain were reported on I-10 between Winnie and Beaumont, with nearly falling in just 12 hours. Rain fell at over per hour in several places.
Floodwaters from the swollen Lou's Bayou inundated Huffman on September 20, a day after the rains subsided. At least 50 people required rescue across the community. Throughout Houston, hundreds of homes were affected by flooding and more than 1,600 vehicles were towed. In Harris County alone, 422 people required high-water rescue; the Texas National Guard rescued 130 people. During the flood, nine barges escaped a shipyard, and at least two struck the Interstate 10 bridge over the San Jacinto River, causing visible damage to some of the columns supporting the highway. The bridge was subsequently closed to traffic in both directions. As of September 23, damage in Texas were reported to be $3 million. The National Centers for Environmental Information estimated total damage to be in excess of $1 billion. Aon Benfield Analytics estimates total losses to top $2 billion.