An 83-year rainfall record is shattered in Texas

Stormy weather made for a wet Labor Day in Galveston on Monday, where enough rain has fallen so far to break an 83-year-old daily rainfall record in the coastal Texas city by nearly an inch.

Last Friday, the National Weather Service’s (NWS) West Gulf River Forecast Center posted a rainfall map showing that parts of Texas were expecting up to 7 inches of rain this weekend. The heaviest rain was forecast for western Texas near the Louisiana border. That forecast came to fruition on Monday afternoon, when so much rain fell in Galveston that NWS meteorologists issued a flash flood warning for the island city, ordering people in the affected area to immediately seek higher ground.

On Monday afternoon, even as it was still raining, the NWS office in Galveston said the rainfall had already broken a record.

“As of 140pm, Galveston recorded 5.53″ of rainfall today. While light rain is still ongoing and totals will be higher by the end of the day, this will be a new record rainfall for Sept 2nd,” NWS Houston posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday afternoon. “The old record of 4.64″ was previously set in 1941.”

Before the post about the broken record, the NWS office warned of ongoing street flooding across the city.

“Rain intensity has significantly diminished on Galveston Island, though ongoing street flooding will take a while to recede,” the office wrote. “If you encounter watered covered roads, turn around and find another route to your destination!”

As of Monday afternoon, the only weather-related alerts in place in the Houston/Galveston forecast area were a hazardous weather outlook warning of scattered thunderstorms, a special weather statement warning of the possibility of tropical funnels, and a marine weather statement warning of widespread thunderstorms that would continue through the afternoon.

Newsweek reached out to NWS Houston by phone for comment.

Other parts of the Lone Star State experienced soggy weather on Monday as well. As of Monday at 4 p.m. Eastern time, flash flood warnings had been issued by the Midland, Texas, forecast office.

“Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses,” the warning said. “In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded roads. Find an alternate route.”

Flood advisories and flood watches were issued in other parts of the state as well, mostly across central Texas.