Houston bayou level rises 25 feet as Beryl brings major flooding, dangerous road hazards

Rainfall brought by Beryl is causing near-record flooding in the Houston area. City officials say dangerous driving conditions have prompted road delays, closures, and several rescues.

Bayous on the west side of Houston have been especially impacted by flooding. In a span of nine hours on Monday, water in the White Oak Bayou rose 25 feet, while water in the Buffalo Bayou rose 24 feet.

More:See Texas power outage map as Hurricane Beryl makes landfall near Matagorda

Texas weather watches and warnings

MAP: Flooding creates dangerous driving conditions in Texas

Rising waters have shut down roads along the Texas coast as some areas see major flooding related to Tropical Storm Beryl.

WATCH: Houston traffic cameras

Flash flooding in the Houston area have prompted at least one rescue after a vehicle became stranded in the waters.

RESCUE:Houston driver rescued after truck gets stranded by Hurricane Beryl floodwaters. See video

What is a flash flood warning?

A warning of any kind indicates action must be taken. This differs from an advisory, in which the public is urged to be aware of potential hazards, and a watch, in which the public should be prepared for potential hazards. The National Weather Service categorizes flood hazards by the following:

• Flash Flood Warning: A Flash Flood Warning is issued when a flash flood is imminent or occurring. If you are in a flood prone area move immediately to high ground. A flash flood is a sudden violent flood that can take from minutes to hours to develop. It is even possible to experience a flash flood in areas not immediately receiving rain.
• Flood Warning: A Flood Warning is issued when the hazardous weather event is imminent or already happening. A Flood Warning is issued when flooding is imminent or occurring.
• Flood Advisory: A Flood Advisory is issued when a specific weather event that is forecast to occur may become a nuisance. A Flood Advisory is issued when flooding is not expected to be bad enough to issue a warning. However, it may cause significant inconvenience, and if caution is not exercised, it could lead to situations that may threaten life and/or property.
• Flood Watch: A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for a specific hazardous weather event to occur. A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding. It does not mean flooding will occur, but it is possible.

More:This county in Texas ranks No. 1 in top 10 most at risk for flooding in 2024. See list