Tropical Storm Frances, September 10-11, 1998, provided the first full-scale test of the Rice/TMC Flood Alert System. Below is an animation showing the radar scans available during the storm. Beneath the radar loops is a timeline showing what we knew, and when, during the event.
Tropical Storm Frances Time Line
Midnight - Heavy Rainfall expected throughout the night
2:00 a.m. - 3:30 a.m. Squall line passed through.
4:00 a.m. - Brays near 20,000 cfs, second squall line approaching. Yellow "Flood Caution"
6:30 a.m. - Second squall line passed through, Brays near 24,000 cfs. Orange "Flood Possible"
8:00 a.m. - After a small peak, Brays Bayou at 24,000 cfs. Radar indicates another squall line approaching.
9:00 a.m. - National Weather Service warns of severe line of thunderstorms in southern Harris County. Brays Bayou still near 24,000 cfs.
10:00 a.m. - Center of last squall line has passed, and Brays Bayou has peaked at 25,500 cfs, and begins to recede. Radar indicates little chance for rainfall in next few hours.
10:30 a.m. - Rainfall over Brays Bayou ends.
