Flood watch in effect as powerful storms hit Houston

Heavy rain and possible flooding are expected today and a flash flood watch is in effect as a weak cold front packing strong storms pushes through the Houston area later this morning and afternoon.

Downpours are expected to dump up to four inches of rain in some areas, with isolated spots getting potentially getting more, according to the National Weather Service.

The front is likely to rush through the area, taking the rain with it, and conditions should be clear until a second front arrives Thursday or Friday, bringing more rain.

Peeking ahead, the weekend is expected to be sunny and mild, just like the previous two.

The weather service issued a flash flood watch for southeast Texas through this evening. High water is possible in low-lying areas and some street flooding is likely, forecasters said.

As of 8 a.m., the leading edge of the front was entering northwest Harris County, bringing a solid line of thunderstorms. Some areas ahead of the front got a soaking as isolated storms moved in from the coast before dawn.

Forecasters had expected greater chances of flooding after early computer models suggested that the cold front would lumber slowly through southeast Texas and stall near Houston, saturating the area with heavy downpours.

However, more recent models show the system is picking up speed and now forecasters believe the front will move quickly through the region, dumping less rain than initially expected, said Wendy Wong, a weather service meteorologist.

Today, the high temperature will reach about 77 degrees and there is a 100 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms. A north wind will be between 5 mph and 15 mph with gusts up to 20 mph as the front reaches the area.

The high temperature Tuesday will top out near 70 and the low will be in the mid 50s. No rain is forecast.

Forecasters expect a slight chance of rain Wednesday, increasing to about 50 percent Thursday and Friday as the week's second cold front nears the region. The high each day will range from near 80 degrees to about 70 and the low will be range from near 70 to the low 60s under mostly skies.

Sun is predicted Saturday and Sunday with high temperatures in the upper 70s and lows in the upper 50s.