Corpus Christi, Texas – Heavy tropical rainfall is spreading across South Texas this afternoon and tonight as Tropical Storm Bertha moves inland near the Texas-Louisiana border, creating a growing threat of localized flooding from the Coastal Bend into the southern Coastal Plains and Brush Country. Drivers could encounter water-covered roads and rapidly changing travel conditions through Friday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Corpus Christi, widespread showers and embedded thunderstorms will continue moving inland through Friday. Most locations south of a line from Victoria to Laredo are expected to receive 1 to 3 inches of rainfall, with isolated higher totals where storms repeatedly develop. The strongest thunderstorms could produce rainfall rates exceeding 3 inches per hour, quickly overwhelming drainage systems and leading to localized flash flooding.
Communities including Corpus Christi, Victoria, Kingsville, Alice, Beeville, Rockport, Port Lavaca, Sinton and surrounding areas should be prepared for periods of torrential rain, frequent lightning and gusty winds. The Weather Prediction Center continues to maintain a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 4) for excessive rainfall across much of the Coastal Bend and southern portions of the Coastal Plains and Brush Country through Friday morning.
Beachgoers should also be aware of a moderate risk of rip currents along Gulf-facing beaches, making swimming dangerous even when thunderstorms are not directly overhead.
Residents should avoid driving through flooded roadways, allow extra travel time and closely monitor weather alerts overnight. Conditions can deteriorate quickly as slow-moving storms develop, especially in urban and low-lying areas.
Heavy rain will continue through Friday, and additional flood advisories or flash flood warnings may be issued if rainfall becomes more concentrated across South Texas.
