Special Weather Statement

LIBERTY, October 20, 2009 - A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING PERIODS OF LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN TO SOUTHEAST TEXAS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY.

AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE WILL APPROACH FROM THE WEST...WITH ITS ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT MOVING ACROSS THE AREA THURSDAY.

THIS TROUGH WILL DRAW UP DEEP TROPICAL MOISTURE FROM THE GULF ALONG WITH ABUNDANT MID AND HIGH LEVEL MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM RICK. SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP BEGINNING LATE MORNING THROUGH AFTERNOON WEDNESDAY AND PERSIST THROUGH THURSDAY. THE RAIN IS EXPECTED TO END THURSDAY EVENING AS A COLD FRONT PUSHES OFF THE TEXAS COAST.

THE PRIMARY THREAT WITH THIS EVENT WILL BE HEAVY RAINFALL. WIDESPREAD RAINFALL TOTALS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED...WITH ISOLATED TOTALS OF UP TO 5 INCHES POSSIBLE. MINOR FLOODING OF STREETS...FEEDER ROADS...SECONDARY ROADS...AND LOW WATER CROSSINGS WILL BE POSSIBLE. THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS FOR ONE OR TWO FUNNEL CLOUDS OR AN ISOLATED TORNADO TO FORM IN THE TROPICAL AIRMASS. HOWEVER...THE OVERALL SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL REMAIN MINIMAL DUE TO LIMITED INSTABILITY.FCST MODEL SOUNDINGS SUPPORT THE POSSIBILITY OF ONE OR TWO FUNNEL CLOUDS OR AN ISOLATED TORNADO IN THE TROPICAL AIRMASS.